I remember exactly what I was doing when I heard Kobe had passed.

And my reaction caught me off guard. I got very emotional and it really caused me to pause and reflect.

Over the last few days, all I’ve been doing to trying to figure out why?

Work Ethic
“I have nothing in common with lazy people who blame others for their lack of success. Great things come from hard work and perseverance. No excuses.”

Was it Kobe’s All-Star MVP’s?

Was it his Olympic Gold Medals?

Was it all of his championships?

Maybe, it was because he was a Dad?

I don’t think so…

The Dream
“Those time when you get up early… those times when you stay up late… when you’re too tired… you don’t want to push yourself, but you do it anyway. That is actually the dream.”

After some reflection, I think it became clearer to me why Kobe’s passing affected not only me, but the whole world.

When we saw Kobe, we saw the human spirit so perfectly personified.

The yearning of all of humanity to reach their greatest potential – individually and as a whole.

That, in us, there is limitlessness and desire and determination and grit…to go above and beyond. To work hard. To spend every precious second of our existence in the pursuit of something great.

To leave behind love and kindness in the hearts of others through our actions, our good deeds, and how softly we embrace the suffering of others.

How we could do more and how that little ‘extra work’ can lead to great things – the reaching and achieving of our hopes and dreams through OUR effect and persistence.

We are all Kobe. And he showed us how great each of us could be…