#189: Learning From The Death Of Kobe Bryant

Kobe Bryant was an amazing human being, athlete, and family man who left a huge legacy. With the shocking news yesterday of his passing and the other passengers, I felt it was something that I would reflect on as this event impacts society. The outreach from the world about this event has been immense and speaks to the magnitude of who Kobe Bryant was. To someone like me, who isn't a big basketball fan, he was more than just a player but a cultural icon. I remember playing on the basketball court with my friends in middle school and yelling "Kobe" when I went for a shot. His name was a part of my own memories on the playground.  What can we learn from this great individual's death? There are three main takeaways I considered when thinking about it. First, that one person who dedicates themselves to their talents and has an incredible work ethic, can achieve greatness. Kobe is a teacher and an example of how consistent effort over time within the right context can result in huge results. Of course, he was one of his kind, but he chose a path that stacked with his own natural talents and honed his skills with exceptional work ethic. This work ethic and talent created a world-class, Olympic-level basketball player. We can all be even more inspired by his process of living, and learn to be our best selves in whatever field of interest we pursue.  Secondly, I would reflect on the philosophy of momento mori which means to remember we are all going to die. The one guarantee of being born is our impending death. This could sound gruesome or cruel to some, but to me, it is one of the greatest gifts we have. Our finite ability to live on this planet forces us to take into account and appreciate the time we have. By understanding we are organic and physical, we can truly appreciate our days with greater depth and joy. We appreciate the process of life and take each moment with even more respect. We can utilize our future death as a reminder to enjoy life through its completeness the best we can. Kobe shows us a life well-lived despite ending too soon.  Thirdly, we can respect the other passengers who passed away in the flight and who may not have received as much notice. These passengers include Gianna (Kobe's daughter), successful baseball coach John Altobelli, his wife Keri, daughter Alyssa, and basketball coach Christina Mauser who also passed away in the crash. We may remember the brightest stars and accomplished, but there are many others who lived significant, yet untold lives. These hidden potentials and stars in their own right were not known, but they too are also important humans and individuals with their own families, stories, and efforts. May we respect those whose stories we know and still appreciate other members regardless of their level of status. Much love to the families and those impacted by the event. May we take the situation and learn from it, grow through it, and use great examples of what man can do to lift our own spirits and efforts to the next level. It is the natural thing to mourn and rightly so, but for those still on the court, it's time we play our great game.