Day 15 - All you need is love

Bit of a downpour

Well it took about 24 hours before Baton Rouge decided to make me feel right at home. Woke nice and early (not sure when I became an early bird). 

Flung open the curtains. Cue sullen grey skies, driving incessant rain and a general feeling of overcast-ness (not sure that's a word but it'll be the job for now). 

Managed to get to the gym this morning as well so that's a nice positive start to my time here.

So, the big news coming out over the last few hours or so here in the USA is the death of Kobe Bryant, a former NBA (basketball) player widely acknowledged to be one of the best of all time. He was 41. His young 13 year old daughter died in the same helicopter accident. He leaves behind a wife and (I think) three or four other young kids. Last night LeBron James passed him for 3rd on the all-time scorers list and Kobe sent a congratulatory tweet to acknowledge the achievement. Less than 24 hours later and this happens. Tragedy doesn't even begin to describe this. And it is by no means the only tragedy that will happen today. There are always lives being changed in a heartbeat.

It hits home quite a bit for me. I mean I didn't earn $25m a year bouncing a ball around a court obviously, but he's two years older than me - and his daughter is two years older than Katie. The hardest thing about being away is missing her, and not being a daily part of her life. We try to talk everyday (when she can find her phone!) but not being able to give her a hug when things haven't gone great, a celebratory high-five when she manages to achieve something she's been aiming at - yeah that's so hard. I miss those moments, the ones that seem insignificant, but hurt when you can't have them.

I talked a bit about this the other day, but this whole episode kinda piled on top. It really does show how fleeting life can be and therefore how you should do EVERYTHING in your power to make sure your love ones know they are loved, every chance you get. There is no way of knowing when your (or their) world(s) may be turned upside down and changed beyond imagination. 

Knowing you have people who care about you goes such a long way to making life more pleasurable, knowing there is always someone on the end of a phone who you can rely on when you need them. Life is about love - it's about finding it, losing it, cursing it and embracing it. It causes the darkest of pain when it goes wrong, but the pinnacle of joy when it goes right. Love defines us as humans. Love is why we are here really, to experience it and see it in the eyes of others.

Make sure those you love know that tonight. And make sure you live tomorrow with as much love as you have to spare. That is what pushes us to bigger and better things. That is what makes us take chances and have adventures. Because the feeling when things come together (even the little things) is unmatchable.

Till tomorrow,

Tom