PAUL WALKER

I was watching TV this past weekend and saw a VERY young Paul Walker in an episode of Highway To Heaven. It made me smile, seeing this well-known guy at the beginning of his career and realizing how happy and successful he would become.

I don't mean successful at acting. He obviously was. I mean successful at life, at being a human being that the rest of us can be proud to call our own. Not perfect, but the more you read, the higher he stands. For instance, you may or may not know that he had a compassionate side to folks in distress. By using his celebrity and recognizing a need, he formed a non-profit called Reach Out World Wide (ROWW) that helped organize first-responders to natural disasters. He not only provided a voice but a helping hand in relief efforts multiple times, all over the world.

He was also interested in marine biology. Paul's original plan was to make a movie that he would earn enough to pay for his schooling. Those plans changed as more roles came his way. In spite of the professional success and all it's distractions, he remained committed to his love of the sea. See the National Geographic clip here that dealt with sharks and their He seemed like a well-rounded person who didn't let outside influences interfere with his goals and dreams. How many of us would be able to look away from the glitz and glamour, and pursue long-held passions? This speaks volumes of the man who was the face of a movie franchise.

He transitioned from hunting to photography, appreciating wildlife and the outdoors. He studied Jiu-jitsu,  he was a surfer of course, and became a full-time father to his daughter a few years before his passing.

At age 40, he was ready to do more and be more than he was. The world was cheated the day Paul was taken away.

Obviously, there's more to this man than just a pretty face and a pile of cash. The things we hear so little of are the very things that make a Hollywood hero human and whole. Instead of promoting which Kardashian is doing something self-serving, irresponsible, and stupid, I would love to hear of someone like Paul who CARED about others, and went out of his way to make a difference. 

He's not the only one, but Paul surely was a good man and will be missed by all who knew him, and many who didn't. 

We could all be so lucky....