1. Quick thought on Kobe Bryant tragedy…
A tragedy like the death of Kobe Bryant can elicit many emotions. Anytime I hear a story like this, or a person tells me about the death of a loved one, one of my first sets of thoughts goes something like this… Do I like what I am doing right now? Am I doing what I was created to do? Is there anywhere I want to go or anything I want to see? Is there anything I need to say to the people I love and care about? Am I happy? Am I living congruently with my philosophies and beliefs? Am I grateful for all that I have? It’s easy to get off track and take things for granted. Tragedy and death ALWAYS trigger the above listed questions for me, as I get hit with the reality that we have no idea what tomorrow could bring, how quickly it could all change, and how LIFE IS SHORT!
2. A second thought on Kobe…
We are all born with a set of skills, talents, and attributes. I do believe it is our obligation to maximize these gifts. While the death of Kobe Bryant is devastating to his family and so many others, I took some comfort in knowing that even though he died young and left his family behind, he appeared to maximize his talents and make an impact on the world in a way few do. It looks like he lived fully and maximized his 41 years. That made me reflect on my contribution and impact. Am I doing enough? How can I make the biggest impact? Am I doing all that I can and should be doing? And as some negative things about his past began to surface in the media, I was also reminded that for all the good you do, the bad stuff doesn’t go away. Doing a lot of good helps, but doesn’t erase the bad. So… make sure you are maximizing your God-given talents… avoid doing things that are bad, harmful, and hurtful… and start living fully RIGHT NOW!
3. Something I learned this week…
I heard a new acronym this week… FOMO. This stands for Fear Of Missing Out. It’s a real thing and has been studied for a couple of decades now. It refers to “the feeling or perception that others are having more fun, living better lives, or experiencing better things than you are.” While this has probably been in existence forever, social media has greatly accelerated it. Why is it a big issue, and why should you be aware of it? Because it is a significant cause of stress and anxiety. I’ve talked in the past about avoiding social comparisons as a way of reducing stress and unhappiness. Well, FOMO is just that… a social comparison. Something to remember… people post highlights in their life, which is not an accurate reflection of their everyday life. Oh… and people usually aim to impress, causing them to exaggerate the good. Be aware of FOMO, and don’t get sucked into the trap of feeling like everyone else is doing, or has, more than you. If interested, here is a simple article from verywellmind.com that goes into more detail…