January 26, 2020 will forever be the day that everyone was in their feelings. What started as a normal Sunday turned into a day of reflection, sadness, and somber social media posts. Kobe Bryant, his daughter, and seven other people died in a tragic accident. Those seven other people were also someone’s father, mother, sister, brother, son, daughter, loved one. And, as tragic as this accident was — it’s no different than any other day. In fact, to quote Neville from Harry Potter, “People die everyday! Friends, family.” The difference today is that Kobe was an icon all over the world so this tragic accident sparked a magnitude of response.
I didn’t grow up a Lakers fan and I don’t consider myself a huge Kobe fan but I still felt the sadness of his death in my bones. Maybe it’s because the details got more tragic as the day went on or maybe it’s because we live in a social media world where every post I scrolled through was another tribute to him — either way, I felt it. I saw Doc Rivers cry through an interview, I saw players drain the shot clock at 8 and 24 seconds, and I saw Grammy performers pay tribute to a peer. And then finally, it clicked.
Yes, people die all the time. Sometimes we’re prepared, sometimes we’re not. I’ve lost loved ones and I’ve seen loved ones lose their loved ones. No matter the circumstance, it never makes sense and it never gets easier. I think when someone like Kobe or Mac Miller or even Princess Diana tragically die, it brings together people on a mass level. When we lose people who have had a huge impact on the world, we’re shocked because we forget they’re human just like us. We’re reminded that no amount of success or fame or money can save you. I don’t think that one person’s death is sadder than another but it’s clear that some create a bigger ripple effect. And, today was one of those days.
This is no different than when there’s a mass shooting like Newtown, Parkland, Vegas, San Bernadino, Texas, or Dayton. It’s such a shame that it takes a tragedy for everyone to take a minute and step back to realize how truly fragile life is. There have been so many posts popping up on my feed today reminding everyone to hug their loved ones, tell people you’re sorry or what they mean to you — and I don’t get me wrong, I’m here for it — but I think we could all do a little better reminding ourselves of that without needing a tragedy.
I don’t have a real purpose to this post other than that I’ve been in my feelings all day and felt like I needed to share about it. Even the performances at the Grammys tonight have me crying on the couch — it’s just one of those days. So, let’s not wait until the next tragedy to tell people we love them. Don’t wait until the right time to tell someone you appreciate them. Keep your loved ones close and remember that at the end of the day, life is short so make the most of the time you have because who knows how long that will be.