MINDFULNESS
Kobe Bryant And The Power of Shared Grief Anthony Gonzalez, LCSW
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I was walking through our local grocery store when I heard my wife let out an audible gasp from behind me. I turned to see the tears welling in her eyes. My stomach sank, and I feared the absolute worst. She stood in shock and shared the heart-wrenching news that Kobe Bryant had passed away. And what’s more, his daughter was with him and was also gone. We collectively mourned, as we all discovered together that so many had tragically passed on that helicopter. We exchanged memories through the night, as memorials ran across social media with people sharing their sadness, shock, and prayers for the families left to survive this
incredible pain. It was confusing. Why do we feel such a deep loss for people we have never met? I did not know, never met, and unfortunately will never meet Kobe, and yet I was overcome by his loss far too soon. Many of us were. Why is it that we can be so moved when someone so distant departs this life? My answer is connection. We do not need to have a physical connection with someone to feel profoundly emotionally connected. We watch from afar, we cheer, we read, we are entertained, and people educate us
