Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna Bryant were among nine who tragically lost their lives in a Helicopter crash earlier today. Bryant was just 41 years old and his beautiful daughter was at the tender age of 13.

Kobe Bryant, a Basketball legend and former L.A. Lakers. An accomplished player with a successful 20-year career,  five championships, and 18 time NBA All-Star  Star.

What an amazing life he had! As a son, father, husband and player but there were so much more for Kobe to accomplish. He Launched a media company, published his memoir “The Mamba Mentality: How I Play,” and won an Oscar for best animated short film (Dear Basketball).

Kobe Bryant reinvented himself and I believe he was about to embark on another chapter in his life that would have been even more incredible than the last.

His larger than life persona was often judge but he forged ahead and lived his life on his own terms. He has inspired so many.  He may have left us today but he will continue to live and impact our lives every day. Through his memories, his Philanthropy,  his contributions to the game of basketball and his contributions to the world.

I can’t help but to feel great sadness and I haven’t stopped crying. I’m writing and I know it’s not about Brooklyn but it’s about life. Your life, my life, our lives and it just seems appropriate.

Life is so short and I believe we sometimes forget that. We live our lives as if, it’s infinite. And we treat others as if we have an infinite amount of time to make things right.

We tend to plan a lot but fail to act. The smallest of things are squabbled over. We hate each other over things beyond our control like the color of our skin, etc. There is great indulgence in jealousy and envy knowing it will not change our lives (Only we can do that).

We spend our time on social media comparing ourselves to unrealistic and unreal posts curated by others whose entire stories isn’t on their feed. The people we claim means the world to us are neglected and not appreciated. We fail to show kindness and compassion to our fellow human beings. And the list goes on.

Over the past year I’ve struggled with great anxiety and fear whenever I think about death. I don’t know maybe it’s because I watch my best friend in pain every day over the lost of a parent. Maybe it’s because I lost my grandmother and shortly after her sister.

Or because my cousin lost her very first love and a few months later a very good friend. Or could it be about getting older and realizing that life is so much more than I thought it was/is. Maybe it’s all those things.

Our live are  truly amazing but we fail to see it because we focus on all the little things that aren’t going right. As I contemplate death I choose to focus on living – to focus on what’s important to me. Each day we open our eyes is another day to live and live well if we choose to.

I don’t live well every day because I’ve just gone through life on autopilot for many years but I Try every day to live better. On the days I fall short I’m kind to myself and set an intention to do better the next day .

Things do not always go right in life – for some reason life isn’t set up that way. But life is bits of laughter, happiness, sadness, tears, joy, pleasure, pain, etc all woven together to make life complete.

I wasn’t a huge fan of Kobe Bryant as a player (I’m a NY Knicks girl) but I appreciated his work ethic, his passion for the game of basketball, the inspiration he was to many young boys and girl and his charity work. I’m not praising him now that he’s gone I’ve appreciated so much about him over the years, read his books and followed his work in multimedia for young adults.

And I’m asking you to do the same, appreciate the people close to you while they are here with you not after they’ve passed on. Tell them what they mean to you and show them every chance you can.

Today my love and prayers goes out to his wife, Vanessa Bryant and their daughters and to the rest of the Bryant family. My hope is that the collective energy of prayer that the world is sending your way will comfort you all during this sad and difficult time. Our hearts are with you and you are in our prayers.

And to you my Dahlings I close with this quote from Bob Marley and a brief message:

“OPEN YOUR EYES, LOOK WITHIN. ARE YOU SATISFIED WITH THE LIFE YOU’RE LIVING?”

And I will add are you satisfied with how you’re treating yourself and others? Understand that our lives are fragile and finite (don’t make it another thing to worry about but be mindful of it). Make a conscious choice to truly live.

Cheers

XXOO

NAT