"you were there, and you were everything I'd never seen. You woke me up from this long and endless sleep. I was alone. I opened my eyes and you were there" - Southern Sons
Everyone has moments of inspiration. Think back: who was the first non-family member who influenced you? Perhaps a teacher or perhaps you didn’t even meet the individual.
People are inspired and transpired by works of literature and film that impact how we view the world and ourselves. A novel can help explore the journey of the human soul through deep metaphors and sharp dialogue. A film about fictional characters can provide answers to our own hearts desires. Words and music are more likely to impact on a person’s cognitive thought system that a simple action does, according to a recent study by the American Psychological Association.
Brandon Lee inspired many – does that shock you? Because it shouldn’t. I had a conversation not too long ago with a Bruce Lee enthusiast who despite spending many years interested, fascinated and inspired by Brandon’s father Bruce Lee, couldn’t quite understand that scores of strangers could be inspired and impacted (in a platonic way) by him.
Brandon in fact insightfully influenced many to live their lives authentically, to dream, to love, to never give up and to be secure who they are. Over the last 12 years I have spoken with hundreds of people – strangers, whose lives have been changed because Brandon Lee was born. You don’t have to discover the cure for cancer, or even a new martial art to be someone who inspires others. In our own daily lives we all have that opportunity. A small gesture, a kind deed or a selfless action may prove to someone else to be the catalyst to change their life in some way.
Today would have been 46th birthday and while it may be beyond the realm of possibility to imagine what his life might look like had he not been killed, what is evident is that his life continues to impact others in a very positive light.
I recently asked on our FaceBook page how Brandon had impacted people’s lives. Many expressed the most deepest of emotions to recall how exactly he impacted them. Some were influenced by his acting roles and the passion he delivered to them, others were affected by his life story and his tragic death, while others still articulated that Brandon’s own words or his unique perspective on life helped them to become a better person – or at least aspire to be.
Here are just some the stories of those individuals who were affected by the life of Brandon Bruce Lee:
Brandon had an untamable spirit that wasn’t afraid to express his passions or sense of humor. He seemed fearless to embrace life on his own terms being his own man along the way. Instead of trying to live up to expectations or becoming something or someone he wasn’t he managed to overcome so many obstacles in his life simply by just being himself. Being fearless was more than just pulling some silly prank, making someone laugh or even some silly stunt – Sandy Brookshire
Brandon was so funny and it is reflected through stories from the people that knew him best and and all of the films he chose to do, he was just coming into his own when tragedy struck. In the past it was hard for me to look back on all of that and not be bitter, it all could’ve been prevented. But Brandon didn’t seem to live his life that way, so why should I - Steph
Stepping out of his father’s shadow and creating his own legacy would have been just the start of a creative flame that would be burning bright this very day. Brandon was more than just the son of an icon, he was a creative talent that had a legacy to leave in his own right and yet through his brief career he did just that. People used to talk about him being the son of Bruce Lee yet his own talent and skill now make him his own man which is exactly how we should remember him. Creative, talented, charismatic and often larger than life, he was his own man – Dean Fraser-Phillips
Brandon Lee impacted my best friend & my life in his acting. Then, when my friend passed away the movie & Brandon Lee took on even more meaning. Finally, I learned how much of a humanitarian Brandon Lee was; we have common ground. We both were/are looking for who we were/are and found something even greater than ourselves – Rita Owens
Brandon taught me that to be who you are is important even if life expects you to be something else, he inspired me to believe that we all have a space in time , age means nothing,i lost my only son in 92 and then 93 he left us with words and a life worth remembering i am indebted to him and his father for showing me through their sharing their life with us. i walk on always till my space is gone – James Mc Keown
Brandon and Bruce have inspired me to be the best person I can be. they’re so wise, and they have helped me become a stronger & better person, and also helped me realize the potential i have. and that i can achieve my dreams if i truly want to – Lauren Cawdell
I can honestly say that if it wasn’t for Brandon and his father Bruce, I might never have become an actor. Thanks to them I’ve followed my dreams and although its taken a lot longer that even I thought it would, the dream is finally shaping into reality. Eternal thanks – Daniel Whyte
Watching his interviews, it really touched me how obviously evident it was how much he loved Eliza. I have my own love and I try not to take anything for granted, as we all know how it can end in an instant – Gina Capparelli
No matter what the circumstance for the impact – however small, Brandon Lee mattered to many. When I have read another’s very mistaken view that someone’s achievements are based on how much money they make, or how old someone is when they die, or who they know – then they miss the entire compass of the landscape of dreams and life purpose. As people, we need others. Brandon viewed human connection as very important and discussed the vital role others played in his spiritual journey. Without connections how can human beings relate and interact with each other?
A while ago I was sent a youtube link to a song I had long forgotten about. There comes a period as you mature where you move away from an experience, a person or even a song. The song was called ‘You Were There’ by Australian 90′s pop group Southern Sons. The song was released the same week Brandon died in 1993 and reflected much what I felt at the time as a 15 year old trying to comprehend how someone I admired was killed. My best friend and I sat around her CD deck one Saturday afternoon and played the song constantly for 4 hours. Eventually two more good friends of ours joined us and we all reflected in complete silence on the fragility of human life – all without saying a word to each other. The song helped us communicate through the trauma of teen angst and emotional uncertainty. Now 18 years later I was struck by the poignancy of the first verse:
“In time, I’d have told you but I guess I am too slow”
At the time I couldn’t have known how the ideas that this song implanted in my head (feeling sad for not being able to thank someone who impacted your life) would take on even greater significance for our group. Two years later two of my friends who were with me that day were killed in a car accident and like I felt that day in April 1993, I never was able to tell them how much they changed my life.
As I was listening to it as an almost 33 year old I began to smile ever so slightly because in hindsight, I think that Brandon probably would have been touched that so many people have been affected like they have. I would like to think had things worked out differently for him that I probably might of gotten the chance eventually to send a note to say ‘Thanks” but as the character in the song sings, “I guess I’m too slow”. Perhaps we all were – he was one of us but we didn’t appreciate his value until it was too late. We never do appreciate how fragile life is to we are forced to.
Brandon’s death grounded me in the reality of life, and other deaths since then – from friends to parents – have help cement the need for me to enjoy the miracle of each day. Brandon was alive for only 28 years and while that may not be that long in the history of the world, I am grateful that he came into my life and changed the way I approached life and my dreams. I never knew him, but I didn’t have to. He gave me a gift that I now give back to my readers everyday through words. My writing career may never have started had it not been for that opportunity to consider where my own passion took root. A stranger made me embrace living again through his words- and 18 years on I have so much to be thankful for.
In closing, birthdays are for celebrations and amongst all the superficial “other” kind of tributes that no doubt will take place on networking sites, that recall moments of his character rather than Brandon in his own reality, BUT perhaps there might be a person out there who can understand, even appreciate the kind of time and consideration many decent people have spent trying to convey just two basic words to someone none of us really knew.
Happy Birthday Brandon!
