The Wonder that was Whitney-Her Legacy and Lessons

It's hard to believe she's gone.
Whitney Houston was larger than life.
This diva touched, inspired and influenced the lives of people from all races, religions, regions, and musical tastes.
Whether dancing to her disco tunes, romancing to the soundtrack of "The Body Guard" (with Kevin Kostner), or embracing the lyrics of "The Greatest Love All" and its celebration of the potential of children, few would argue that she was an amazing talent with an angelic voice.

She was BIG.
In fact, so big that I fear that these words will be insufficient in paying tribute to the wonder that was Whitney.

She had it all. Or so we thought.
She had the beauty of a cover-girl model.
She was rich and worldly-recognized.
She made and broke countless musical records.
She was clever and charismatic. And surprisingly funny.

And yet, she was often reported in the news and frequent tell-tale interviews to have had struggles with substance abuse and a "bad-boy" rapper with a rap sheet.

Despite the good press and bad, one thing's for certain: her legacy and the contributions she made to the arts and the world at large will live on for generations to come.

She will be missed. She will be remembered.

Here are a few lessons I was left with upon her demise.

1. She died at 48. No matter what our age, everyday is a gift. Live each one to the fullest.

2. As creative artists, it's important that we produce and put forth "a body of work" of which we can be proud. Like she did. Once it goes "public" it becomes as much a part of our legacy as family recipes and prized heirlooms.

3. Nobody's life is void of suffering, struggles and pain. Even the rich.

4. Music and literary works have a way of establishing immortality.

5. It's important to let people know how much you cherish them while they can hear the words.

Thoughts? Any Whitney fans out there?