Kobe Bryant "Never give up."

Malaysian love their sports, while most settle with badminton or football, I some how myself into basketball. I still remember the excitement that pump thru my heart whenever I reach school early so that I can have some time around the court, be it just some simple layups. I love basketball. Period.

Then come one of the biggest hero in my life, Kobe Bryant.

Image credit: Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE/Getty Images/ESPN

Frankly, I was never very good at basketball for the most of my school life. Partly due to the fact that I lacked the talent and finesse with the ball handling, making me suck at the offensive ends. I am so so so frustrated. Then I remembered what Kobe said during some interview about failure.

"Never give up."

Image credit: cnn.com/ESPN

Then, I turn my head and fire up my rage to increase my effort at the defensive ends, faster; higher; more blocks; more steals. So that I will be feared, I told myself. From that day on, I stop playing with my class mates, and proceed to get my ass kicked play with elder peers, school teams and adults. I always lose those game badly, and get mocked and ridiculed over my decision to play with them.

"Everything negative - pressure, challenge - is all an opportunity for me to rise."

I never stop playing.

Miraculously, the mentality how I treat my basketball time slowly seeps into my life, that often provide me with a grasp hold of the important stuff when the real world is crushing down on you, mercilessly. It's especially helpful when I'm transitioning from a student to a working adult where only result matters, that it's either you did it, or you didn't.

"Losing is losing, there aren't different degrees of losing. You either win a championship or you're s---. It's very black & white to me."

Even though I never understand how it work consciously, my mind is always prepared, to face everything as the real deal. With that sort of #mambamentality, even tho there is no safety nets, I jumped as high as I can whenever I could, I ran as fast as I can whenever I should. Because Kobe.

Imae credit: NBA.com

Thank you Kobe, for being the greatest and awe-inspiring for me.