Since Sunday, January 26th 2020, my heart has been broken into a zillion pieces.

Not that I was a major fan. Admittedly, I had issues with the perceived selfishness with the ball. The seemed arrogance annoyed me to no end. However, there was extreme respect. The few things I knew of him, outside of basketball was impressive. His intelligence. His confidence. His work ethic. His determination. His focus.

There was much about who and what he was to be admired. Many aspects of his character were qualities a parent can only wish for in their offspring.

My heart goes out to those privileged to actually know him. His family and his friends. I can't imagine the anguish they are feeling at every second of the day.

How will the world recover from this? How can any of us watch another basketball game and not think, not grieve for his absence in this world?

What a loss of this magnitude reminds me of. To live your life to the absolute fullest. Set the bar high for yourself and work diligently to achieve dreams and desires. Be confident. Be strong.

Face your obstacles. Face your mistakes head on. Be responsible and earn forgiveness by being of exemplary character. Be worthy of honor and respect.

This loss reminds me that bad things can certainly happen to the best of us. No one is exempt from intense pain. We have to be kind to one another. For no one knows what the future holds.

Next month (February 6th), my deceased daughter would have been 20 years old. As the date of her birth approaches, anxiety grows. How did I survive the loss of a child all these years? How can any parent bare life without their child in it?

This recent loss is a reminder that we gotta go on. We gotta move forward through the grief of life's unthinkables. We gotta take one step at a time until we get to the other side of pain. Through our grief, may we learn compassion.  Learn not to waste time and energy on the superficial.

May we become more determined to accomplish those goals that frighten us. Make the necessary changes within that we wish to experience in others. Life is short. So let's start now making positive things happen in this world. Leave an impact improves the conditions of that in need of improvements.

A son, a father, a husband, a brother, a friend, a mentor, a legend is gone. Forever gone from this world of so much pain and suffering and heartache and disappointment. But if we all stop to reflect on just how fortunate we all are -- for he, his greatness was here in our lifetime.

RIP Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gigi and all those other lives lost.