For years I woke up on Saturday mornings and wrote a stream of consciousness post before doing anything else. I would set my timer for ten minutes and write whatever was on my mind. It was something of a brain dump and it always felt really freeing.
I had a different post planned for today but decided to move it to Wednesday. My mood this morning felt more like free writing. That’s the cool thing about a blog. With client-based assignments, I have to stick with the plan but with a personal blog, it’s okay to veer off the path if the mood just doesn’t feel right.
Were you in shock over the death of Kobe Bryant and his daughter like I was? Matthew and I had just finished a workout at the gym. We were at the house getting ready for dinner with his sister when we caught wind of the news. I don’t have regular TV so unless I jump online or someone tells me, I’m usually pretty behind with the most current headlines.
This kind of news shows us that accidents and mortality do not discriminate. It doesn’t matter if you’re the most well-known basketball player in the world, horrible things still happen.
Then, when we heard his 13-year old daughter was with him, my heart just broke. HIs wife of 20 years and the other three girls are not only have to mourn the loss of their husband and father but also the loss of a daughter and sister.
As I grow older, I observe more and more that tragedy binds us together as humans. The outpour of global grief and compassion toward Kobe’s family was evident. For a moment in time, politics and war didn’t matter, as everyone simultaneously mourned these losses. I hope Vanessa and the rest of the Bryant family can feel the warmth of all that love.
I never did turn on the news last night or this morning, so I don’t know the updates on the situation. And really, none of that matters. All I can think about is Vanessa Bryant and those three little girls somewhere in Southern California still trying to come to grips with what has happened.
Hold onto your loved ones, friends. Say the things you want to say. Do the things you want to do.
This life is such a precious, fragile gift.