During a conversation on the Bobby Bones Show, the group discussed a question that had recently come up in Bobby’s therapy: “What do you think your purpose is?”
The conversation began with Bobby explaining that his therapist had asked him the question during a session. Normally, the appointments revolve around whatever happens to be on his mind that day, but this time the therapist led with the bigger question about purpose. He then turned the question to Amy, asking what she thought her purpose was. She admitted she needed time to think about it, saying it was a difficult question to answer on the spot.
Eddie quickly jumped in when he said his purpose was simple: to make everyone around him better. He explained that it starts with his family, saying he wants to raise his four boys in a way that prepares them for the world and gives them the best life possible. He also wants his wife’s life to be better because she’s married to him. At first, Amy laughed at the way Eddie phrased it, which led to a quick pause in the conversation. She clarified that the laugh wasn’t meant to dismiss what he was saying. Instead, she said she admired his confidence and wished she could answer the question with the same certainty. Eddie continued explaining that he believes he was put on earth to help people feel better—whether that means helping them become better people or simply helping them forget their problems for a moment. He said even if it’s just someone he meets briefly, he hopes they leave the interaction having had a better day. Bobby agreed, saying Eddie is one of the most fun people to be around and naturally warm with others. He shared a story about bringing Eddie to dinner with sports broadcaster Rich Eisen, someone he had long admired. After the dinner, Eisen told him how much he liked Eddie, saying he loved being around him. According to Bobby, that kind of reaction happens often because Eddie is so easygoing and friendly. Eddie clarified that he didn’t mean he makes people better because he’s perfect. Instead, he just wants people to leave any interaction with him feeling better about themselves.
After that, Bobby shared his own perspective. He said that if he had to boil his purpose down, it would be to show people that where they come from doesn’t determine what they can achieve. He explained that many people grow up in environments where they don’t see examples of the dreams they might have, whether that’s becoming famous, learning an instrument, graduating high school, or becoming a doctor. He believes his purpose is to be an example that the world is bendable and that people can achieve their goals if they keep pushing forward. Even though some people grow up with fewer resources, he believes those challenges can make them stronger once they reach the same level as others who had more support along the way.
Amy said the question was still hard for her to answer, but she began describing herself as a connector. She explained that while she enjoys connecting with people publicly through her job, something that has become especially meaningful over the past five years is connecting with people privately behind the scenes. She said she has experienced several difficult situations in recent years, many of which she has not shared publicly. Because of those experiences, she has found herself in a position where people sometimes recommend that others reach out to her for support or guidance. Amy said it still surprises her when people see her as a resource for things that once felt completely foreign to her. She described moments where she has been able to connect someone to helpful information, a book, or a website that might change the trajectory of their life. Bobby responded by saying Amy has developed a lot of empathy through the challenges she has faced, both publicly and privately. He explained that empathy and perspective are things that can’t be purchased and often only come through very hard experiences. Because of that, he believes those qualities are incredibly valuable. Amy agreed that description felt accurate, even though it was difficult for her to say about herself. She shared a recent example from the cruise where she met a listener who was also an adoptive mother. The two ended up sitting next to each other during a pizza-making class. Through their conversation, Amy could tell the woman was going through something difficult. Amy shared a personal experience that she had never talked about publicly and suggested a book and a website that might help her. She said moments like that mean a lot to her.
