KENYA: Paul Walker, Papa Wemba and ‘The Crocodile Hunter’ Here’s the One Thing They All Have in Common #TasteTheFeelingKE

“When a great man dies, for years the light he leaves behind him, lies on the paths of men.” Those are the wise words of poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

We all wish to leave a mark in this world and the only way we can do it is by living our lives not only to the fullest but in a certain way so that we can as Coca Cola now tells us ‘Taste the Feeling’, of greatness, of happiness, of fulfillment.

Today I look at some famous people who all have one thing in common, they all went out doing what they loved the most and can hopefully inspire us all to pursue our passions in life.

Papa Wemba

“I want my last day to be on stage, because every time when I am on stage, when I am singing, I feel as if I am flying.”

Those were the famous words of deceased Rhumba Legend Papa Wemba to a journalist interviewing him. Little did he know at the time those words would come true one day, not so long ago in fact he passed away April 2016 when he collapsed with a mic on stage while serenading thousands of fans to his now legendary hits.

His death still fresh in all our minds, Papa Wemba is remembered for living an extraordinary life and going by his words also desired an extraordinary death, doing what he loved most.

Steve Irwin

All you Nat Geo fans, animal lovers and conservatist enthusiasts out there might find this name a bit familiar.  

Steve Irwin was known as "The Crocodile Hunter" and loved his work with animals both the cute and cuddly as well as the fanged and ugly critters.

In fact he was one of the world’s most famous animal documentary makers. His TV series ‘The Crocodile Hunter’ was broadcast internationally and it was pretty easy for the audience to tell he was doing what he loved most.

Unfortunately Irwin died on 4 September 2006 while filming an underwater documentary film entitled Ocean's Deadliest, after being pierced in the chest by a stingray barb.

However despite his tragic death, Irwin’s wife and children carry on his work operating an Australian Zoo which was founded by Irwin's parents and demonstrated how much the love of animals ran through his veins.

Paul Walker 

Perhaps the most popular name on this list, actor Paul Walker first came into the limelight as the character Brian O'Conner in the street racing action film ‘The Fast and the Furious’ and went on to star in five of the next six instalments.

But he not only starred as a free loving street racer in his movies his passion for cars was also evident in real life.

Unfortunately Paul died in a single-vehicle collision on November 30, 2013, alongside friend Roger Rodas. And though it has to be his light burned out so soon, he was one of those action stars who lived his life in the most thrilling way driving cars and passed away, unfortunately, doing the same. 

Tommy Cooper

We all love people who can make us smile and even better crack our ribs and no one could do that better than British comic-magician Tommy Cooper.

He was one of the world’s most loved comedians and stood out the most for his ubiquitous red hat and his ''just like that'' catch phrase.

He is eulogized as the man who first began the comedy-magic mix, starting a new way of doing magic that is now being favored by many performing magicians.

He died on stage on live TV in 1984 after suffering a massive heart attack. Unfortunately people thought it's all part of the act. The show continued without him though.

There’s clearly a lot we can learn from these icons and how we can live our lives to the fullest as they have as there’s no greater life than a life lived to the fullest.

Coca Cola is also motivating millions across the world to live their lives to the fullest and ‘Taste the Feeling’. The feeling of success in your work, the feeling of loving others, the feeling of true happiness.

So whatever it is, go out there and always remember to ‘Taste the Feeling’.

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