107) Kobe Bryant

When I was growing up, I always enjoyed watching my favorite NBA player, Kobe Bryant.

Last night, we celebrated his jersey retirement ceremony.

​The Los Angeles Lakers retired both of his jersey numbers, 8 (wore it from 1997-2006) and 24 (from 2006-2015).

Kobe retired at the end of 2015-2016 season. He is a 5-time NBA champion, and 18-time NBA All-Star. 

In NBA history, Kobe and Dirk Nowitzki (of the Dallas Mavericks) are the only players to play for one single team for 20 years. (I believe they will be the last.) 

​Time flies. You already know.

​Video shown below of Kobe's heartwarming speech at Warriors-Lakers halftime.

He improvised. (Not too long speech, not too short. Just right.)

​During his speech, he acknowledged the past, present, and the future of the NBA. He gave full credit to the NBA hall-of-famers ahead of him, or else he would not end up being here. He was truly inspired. He was also grateful for the fans, media, and especially, his family. (The past is remembered.)

​He ended his speech with words of wisdom to his daughters.

​"Those times when you don't feel like working. You're too tired, you don't want to push yourself, but you do it anyway. That is actually the dream. That's the dream. It's not the destination, it's the journey. And if you guys understand that, then what you'll see is you won't accomplish your dreams. Your dreams won't come true. Something greater will, and if you guys can understand that, then I'm doing my job as a father."

​(Live in the moment. The future is in you.)

​He slowly dropped the mic, and he said, "Mamba out."

​Kobe continues on reinventing himself after his successful NBA career.

A month ago, he talked about it on his interview from "Complex News."  

"Fast forward 20 years from now: If basketball is the best thing I've done in my life, then I've failed," Kobe said. "It's a very simple mission, very simple quest, very simple goal. These next 20 years need to be better than the previous 20. It's as simple as that and that is what drives me."

​Hearing this from one of the best NBA basketball players to play the game amazes me.

In life, there is no end for everybody, even if you are Kobe Bryant.

​Keep growing. Never say you are perfect, or you stop from there.

​To this day, I am still learning. Until the day I die, I am still learning.

​Like French American teacher and author, Prof. G, says, "When you bring full awareness to what is, you enter into a new relationship with life."