As the news broke online of the helicopter crash that took the life of former NBA superstar Kobe Bryant, an outpouring of emotion filled all avenues of Social Media. If you are looking for an article that lists off his many accolades, this is not the article you’re looking for.

Despite the fact that we don’t understand things that happen, I believe that things happen for a reason. While today we are dealing with the shock of this news and the next few days will be filled with discussions of where Bryant ranks all-time, the important thing to think about is what can we, the regular people in the world, learn from this tragedy?

Look at the videos and pictures that have been posted since the news broke, you want to know what I notice? It’s the same thing I noticed about Bryant very often during his playing career, his smile. He had one of those smiles that could light up a room and make you feel like everything was alright. So the first lesson to take from Bryant is to smile more. Smile, even if you don’t feel like smiling, because you do not know how your smile can affect someone else.

Additionally, Bryant died at the young age of 41. We do not know when our last day on earth will be. Take a moment and reach out to an old friend. Send them a text message or give them a call. Be nicer to people, because you don’t want the last thing you say to someone be something nasty.

Finally, as has been reported, Bryant was not alone on the helicopter. He was flying with his daughter as well as another parent and child and the pilot. Don’t let any young person’s death get overshadowed. While Bryant is famous, his daughter Gianna and the three others who died in the crash (as of when I’m writing this I have yet to see names of the other victims) were someone’s whole world. Don’t let celebrity status take away from a tragedy.

If we can better ourselves, even just a little bit, then we can honor Kobe Bryant in the best way possible. Of course, like many things in life, this will be the topic for the week and then little by little our regular everyday minutia comes back to the forefront. Let’s try to keep their memories strong by being better individuals.

The thoughts of everyone across the globe go out to the families of those who perished today. May they, along with all those who loved Kobe Bryant find comfort in an appropriate time.