I have been a Los Angeles resident and Lakers basketball fan for years. I followed Kobe Bryant his entire career. He became my hero and, for many, the hero of the team and city. 

Today after enjoying a pleasant brunch with a good friend on a beautiful day, I received a call from a friend on my drive home. They said, please tell me the rumors aren't true about Kobe. I soon went to my phone to see what I might find, and at that time, they were indeed rumors. I felt myself pleading for it to be some cruel internet hoax, but it was not.

As I returned home and began to see the news reports, the grief that overtook my body was shocking. Then I noticed I wasn't the only one. Every television channel carried the coverage, and even the broadcasters found it challenging to hold in and conceal their tears. 

Why did this affect so many and so deeply? Why did this one man have this effect? But more importantly, why was I having the experience?

We can recognize our empathetic feelings of grief when we think of his wife, children, and others who will no longer have his presence. But there was still something more. 

It brought to me the awareness that none of us know how much time we may have in life to accomplish our dreams, so maybe it's a good idea to follow Kobe's example. He touched all of us by his work ethic, never give up attitude, and willingness to do the work to achieve his desires. He committed to helping others and giving back wherever he could. In his own right, he became a motivational speaker.

 Kobe accomplished so much in his forty-one years that hopefully, his legacy will be that he inspires each of us to do the same. That is what I will take from this day.