February 2020: Mamba Mentality

When the chopper fell into the hill, my heart fell inside my chest

I couldn’t fathom that our generation’s best would be laid down to rest

It was one of those JFK days, you won’t forget where you were

I turned on ESPN, and the rest of the day was a blur

5 rings, 2 golds, 41 years of a legend

Gone with 8 others in 1 tragic second

For days, the news consumed all my attention

I consumed podcasts, videos and read every mention

Loving parents and kids, players and teachers

With so much to accomplish beyond just the bleachers

And I can’t stop looking at the photo of Kobe and G

Just a “Girl dad” and his daughter like Charlie and me

It felt like a bad dream, didn’t seem like reality

I struggle to find the reason “Why?” for all the fatalities

But the silver lining for me, is in his legacy. He leaves us with a model of the Mamba Mentality.

It’s so disappointing that Kobe wont apply his untapped potential

But the lessons that he leaves behind are more than essential

For example, as I watched the tributes and the songs and the speeches

One particular quote that Kobe said reached me the deepest:

He said:

“You have to dance beautifully in the box that you’re comfortable dancing in. My box was to be extremely ambitious within the sport of basketball. Your box is different than mine. Everybody has their own. It’s your job to try to perfect it and make it as beautiful of a canvas as you can make it. And if you have done that, then you have lived a successful life. You have lived with Mamba Mentality.”

Being honest, nobody is Kobe on the court, except maybe LeBron is or Giannis

But us mortals must have our own “box” and a purpose beyond this

My box is family, friends, and my people in life

I strive to bring them joy, meaning, and growth all day and every night

This box is the arena in which I find my inner Mamba

Because I can’t quite touch the rim, but I know where to put the commas.

And while Kobe strived to get better every day to keep up with Mike Jordan

I strive to get better every day to just to keep up with “My Jordan.”

And if I don’t shoot jumpers at 3 am, it don’t mean I’m not trying

You’d better believe I’m up at 3, if my little girl’s crying

And when I’m with my crew, I always plan to bring it

If Uptown Funk’s on I’m dancing, when Semi Charmed’s on, I’ll sing it

And in my job, when I’m rejected and advisors won’t call me back

I “dial” back in like Fisher, Kobe, and Shaq

And in between work and class, I’m always learning and reading

Kobe beat Reggie and Pierce, but “Who I was yesterday” is who I’m defeating

So whether or not you once played competitive sports

You should always live like there’s a scoreboard and you’re on Center Court

My scoreboard is my people and how I make them all feel

These are the lessons from Kobe’s legacy that I plan to steal

In fact, these lessons help me reach farther for I don’t know when time expires

Kobe reminds me to always push harder and aim a bit higher

So what’s your canvas? What excellence are you pursuing?

Always strive to “Mamba” the most important things you’re doing