As You Seek, Don’t Forget To See
How a late basketball great, K-pop star, and kid’s movie offer insights into the meaning of life
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I was just passing time on YouTube when the bombshell news dropped. “Kobe Bryant Dead in Helicopter Crash,” headlines read, all of which were corroborated way too quickly.
Disbelief. I got out of my chair and flipped through my closet to find my Kobe jersey. Wearing it, I went about my day — dog park, grocery shopping, cooking — all while my mind was mostly blank.
It didn’t truly hit me until later that evening when I decided to tune into the NBA. Before one of the games, the broadcast featured a Kobe Bryant tribute, a montage of all his best highlights and quotes. Watching that video, all the emotions came rushing in. And for the first time, I and many others broke down crying to the death of someone we had never even met, but who touched our lives deeply. This was, without a doubt, one of the worst tragedies in modern sports history.
However, I found repose and inspiration in one thing: that Kobe did not regret a single minute of what limited time he had on this world. Because while he spent his life seeking greatness, he also did not forget for a moment to see and appreciate his own journey.
The powerful antithesis of “seeking” versus “seeing” is an idea that initially popped into my head right here on Medium, and that inspired this article. Do you identify as a hustler, a go-getter, always seeking accomplishment? Kobe, Rosé, and Pixar offer us three pieces of pop culture that remind us that purely seeking achievement can sometimes be mindless and ultimately unsatisfying, while noticing and seeing what you already have has always proven to be the more fulfilling exercise.
Mamba Mentality
All around the world, fans of Kobe Bryant have been enamored by his “Mamba Mentality,” the philosophy that guided his legendary career and life. The Mamba Mentality is frequently associated with an unwavering competitive spirit and a tireless work ethic.
As a result, it often gets advertised as a mindset for seeking success in a particular area. But there’s more to it. Here are Kobe’s Five Pillars of the Mamba Mentality:
