What's Your Number?

What’s Your Number?

We've all been here. You go to the BMV and grab a ticket (it reads 41). You take a seat steadily watching and waiting to see the next seat that's available. "33!!!" a short lady calls out sharply from behind the counter. You think in your head "Cool just 8 more seats and then I'm up". As you sit patiently, numbers are called off, "34...35...36"...  People raise their hand and get up as they're called to take their seat at the next station. You can feel how close you are and every time you hear a number "37!!!" your excitement grows. You can see other people who look like they have been here for ages not get called but you think the line is moving pretty fast. After checking your phone a few times you hear the number you’ve been waiting so long for... "41!!!". It's your turn. Your time has come, to enter the promise land of the BMV, you’re almost home free. As you stand up and approach the clerk who is beckoning you forward, you give your phone one final glance and are stopped in your tracks. Kobe and Gigi Bryant have died in a helicopter crash" … Suddenly the numbers you were so focused on moments before don't matter. A legend and a future legend are both dead....

When most people speak of “The Black Mamba” they mention things like: in a 20 year career with the L.A. Lakers he was
- 18-time NBA All-Star
- 4-time NBA All-Star Game MVP
- 11-time All-NBA First Team
- 2-time All-NBA Second Team
- 2-time All-NBA Third Team
- 9-time NBA All-Defensive First Team
- 3-time NBA All-Defensive Second Team
- 2-time NBA scoring champion
- NBA Slam Dunk champion
- NBA All-Rookie Second Team
- Los Angeles Lakers’ all-time leading scorer
- 4th on All-Time scoring list

Although, all of these numbers are very impressive, what was most important to the people that Kobe impacted was the tenacity and grit about life that soon became coined as the “Mamba Mentality”. He gave his all in everything that he did. He wanted to be the best. He proved this with his constant mentorship of others, endless philanthropy, time spent developing fans in the community, but most importantly the time spent being a father and husband. 

There are countless numbers we can rattle off for Kobe but we never thought that 41 would be one. 

If the Mamba has impacted you in any way, I urge you to live life now. We are so blessed to have breath, so we must inhale with the utmost appreciation. After all, Kobe would want you to live More life, have MORE happiness, and cherish More moments. 

Because we never know when the clerk will call our number…

R.I.P. Kobe & Gigi Bryant the others lost on the helicopter and all others that we have lost way too soon in this short life. 

Share this with a friend as a reminder that life is too short to let time pass and not let them know that you appreciate them NOW.