Lessons from the Death of Tim Russert

Some people simply aren't meant to die. They're icons, with us for decades. We expect them to keep on keeping on. When a icon dies, there's always shock. Especially when the icon is someone younger.Boomers are the generation that's going to live to 90.

Tim Russert died at age 58 of heart disease. Like many of us he was overweight and under exercised. He loved life and when life offered up good food he ate it. When life didn't offer good food he did like most of us and went to junk food tables and snack machines. Stress eating, many of us call it, though we deny we are stressed.

Politics makes strange bedfellows and so does journalism. I've been involved with both. Both are incestuous. On one hand there is the competition to be first, to be the best. On the other is the understanding that the only people who truly understand your work and life are those who experience the same frustrations and triumphs. Your best friends can be your most intense competitors.

On his death Tim Russert wasn't lauded only by his compatriots at NBC. Every news network, broadcast and cable, devoted huge chunks of time to reporting his life, his passions and his accomplishments, the greatest of which was his love for his family. There was even mention of him during Sunday's NASCAR race. He'd never gotten to the Saturday night races at Richmond "because he had to work on Sundays".

I remember the whiteboard with "Florida! Florida! Florida!" written on it. More than that I remember his exuberance. He had a fire in his belly for the things he loved and politics was dearly loved.

Most of all his love was for his family. His son Luke said on the Today Show, "There was always a lot of love from him. We would always hug. There’s not a day that goes by that I have not known my father loves me. For that, I’m eternally grateful.”

Lessons Tim Russert left for us:

-- Love your family, show them you love them and tell them you love them.

-- Be passionate about your life. Have a fire in your belly to do the best and be the best.

-- Resoect your health and care for it. Don't fail your body for it will give you the life you want.

Godspeed, Tim Russert. Thank you for your passion and your lessons in life.

-- Joanna