I first heard about Kobe Bryant when he passed away in a helicopter crash on 26th January, 2020. Since then I've watched many (more than 50 hours) videos of his (most of them several times) and even read his book The Mamba Mentality.

It has helped me to keep going and put things in perspective in many difficult situations and hopefully they will do the same for you too.

On one such Kobe Binges on YT I came across video where the host reads a post Kobe made on FB while he was frustrated with a torn Achilles,

Post text below:

This is such BS. All the training and sacrifice just flew out the window with one step that I've done millions of times. The frustration is unbearable. The anger is rage. Why the hell did this happen? Makes no damn sense. Now I'm supposed to come back from this and be the same player or better at 35. How in the world am I supposed to do that? I have no clue. Do I have the consistent will to overcome this thing? Maybe I should break out the rocking chair and reminisce on the career that was. Maybe this is how my book ends. Maybe father time has defeated me. Then again, maybe not. It's 3:30 a.m. My foot feels like dead weight. My head is spinning from the pain meds and I'm wide awake. Forgive my venting, but what's the purpose of social media if I won't bring it to you real? No image. Feels good to vent. To let it out, to feel as if this is the worst thing ever. Because after all the vending, the real perspective sets in. There are far greater issues and challenges in the world than a torn Achilles. Stop feeling sorry for yourself. Find the silver lining and get to work with the same belief, same drive, and same conviction as ever. One day, the beginning of a new career journey will commence. Today is not that day. If you see me in a fight with a bear, pray for the bear. I've always loved that quote. That's Mamba mentality. We don't quit. We don't cower. We don't run. We endure and conquer.

I love this post a lot because it is a metaphor for the transformation of a mortal into a mamba.

R.I.P. Kobe 🙏