It’s a couple of days after the tragic death of Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gigi. I’m a basketball fan, but not a die hard fan- and definitely not a Lakers fan. But I am a HUGE fan of people who live to be great and learning of the grit, work and mindset it takes to be the superhuman that Kobe was. And that’s why this story of his untimely death has struck me in a way that I don’t think it has with any other celebrity. From what I’ve learned of him in TV/Media, it was clear he wanted to be great at everything he was a part of. Living in the Philadelphia area and being a part of the Lower Merion community, people are sharing their stories and tributes of Kobe the human being- not the celebrity or basketball player. And it makes this loss even more sad- because at the end of the day, he was just living to be the best example he could be for his kids- so that they in turn could be their best and be great and whatever they do.

When he finally retired, he focused his efforts to provide stories/content for kids to see and realize their full potential. You can’t help but admire someone who really gave to the world as much as he did- and through that all, strived to be present for his kids/family! When I think of someone successful- a few things come to mind- their time freedom, their material success, their ability to give to others, their faith and happiness. I think, how can it be possible for someone to be great at all of these things? Something has to give! It’s too much for 1 person to be great at all those things. But it isn’t. God wants us to be great, and it’s on us to make the choices to be great- and BELIEVE we are capable. Kobe wasn’t superhuman. He just lived and breathed what he was called to be and kept in his mind that he was destined for greatness in every area of his life. I’m not saying that you aren’t successful if you don’t reach Kobe’s level of success. What I’m saying is, it’s in our power to decide what we want and in the choices we make, to create our story of how we are great. That was his story- but what is mine? “Mamba Mentality” is something I never lived by, but totally see and want for myself. It means working towards a life that allows me to choose to be giving of my time- and spend it with who I want, how I want and when I want by removing dumb/time sucking shit/people and focusing on the things that I am great at. The bottom line is that the story of how we define our greatness is different for everyone and we can decide by every choice we make whether we want to be great or not!

When the stories started coming out about the daughter being on that flight, and her name being Gigi- it hit me hard! And then in coming across photos of his daughter, and seeing that Gigi was dressed up like the Tin Man from the Wizard of Oz- I just lost it.

I think about the pain and fear he experienced in those last moments- knowing he couldn’t protect a life he helped to create. Knowing what lied ahead for the future of his surviving children and wife. And his wife- I feel for his wife! I pray that she can be carried through this unimaginable loss. Without even putting basketball/fame/etc. into the equation- anybody that has to deal with the loss of a husband is unbearable- but the loss of your husband AND child- the child that most exemplified your husband? Not saying that losing any child would be OK because it’s just awful no matter what- but it makes that pain just more heavy- because at least if Gigi had lived- seeing that child continue her career in basketball would possibly soften the blow, because she would have been able to see her husband live through her daughter. I can’t even imagine. Everything about the story is heartbreaking. But at the same time, it uplifts me- as I’m sure it has many others- to choose to live life in the middle… and rest at the end.

I’m a part of the InvestHER community- and in one of our mastermind sessions with group leaders throughout the country- we went around to share what our theme for this year would be. For me, it’s FEARLESS. Fearless in my sharing, making and SHARING mistakes, taking risks and growing – because although I have the choice to take action on the plans I make for myself- I also need to surrender and understand that it’s HIS plan that I’m living through and am grateful to be living in. So whatever happens as a result of choices I’ve made, or my circumstances or what someone else has done- is part of HIS plan for me- and I am learning how much peace that gives me. I believe my faith has grown so deeply that I don’t care about being judged by being vulnerable and experiencing/sharing mistakes and how I try to grow in area of my life- because in the end- we’re all not perfect- and there are too many people that are in our immediate circle- that need to feel connected, loved, helped, guided- that are living a life full of fear. And if something I do or say by living the way God had planned for me- can impact the trajectory of someone’s life, then I have no other choice than to be FEARLESS!