Welcome to our new website!
Dec. 24, 2023

Christmas Eve Reflections: A Quest for 80 Miles and the Resonance of 'The Shepherd'

Christmas Eve Reflections: A Quest for 80 Miles and the Resonance of 'The Shepherd'
Apple Podcasts podcast player icon Spotify podcast player icon RSS Feed podcast player icon
Apple Podcasts podcast player icon Spotify podcast player icon RSS Feed podcast player icon

As I lace up my sneakers on this misty Christmas Eve morning, the goal is in sight: less than 20 miles to reach a year-end 80-mile milestone. What unfolds is more than just a typical workout; it's a testament to the inner strength we all possess, set against the backdrop of nature's quiet beauty and the serendipity of deer crossing my path. Join me on a journey that’s as much about the miles as it is the moments of reflection and appreciation for life's simple wonders.

During this episode, I find myself drawn into the atmospheric world of 'The Shepherd' by Frederick Forsythe, a novella that mirrors the eerie beauty of today's weather and the introspective mood of the season. Recommended by former Navy SEAL and renowned author Jack Carr, this story is a perfect companion for the holiday hustle. And as I pound the pavement to support Stop Soldier Suicide Organization, I send out a heartfelt holiday salute to the servicemen and women far from home, ensuring our safety. Sink into the essence of Christmas Eve with me, where every mile traveled is a step closer to home and every story shared is a light in the fog.

Support the show

Transcript
WEBVTT

00:00:04.086 --> 00:00:08.814
Good morning and happy Christmas Eve.

00:00:08.814 --> 00:00:13.791
A surreal environment going on here.

00:00:13.791 --> 00:00:31.204
Anyway, safety disclaimer, I'm not looking directly at the camera, it is mounted on my dash and I am heading to CrossFit Pittsburgh to get in a workout and log some miles.

00:00:31.204 --> 00:00:40.892
Yesterday, yesterday, saturday the 23rd, we passed oh beautiful, dear, right in the middle of the road.

00:00:40.892 --> 00:00:51.612
Anyway, yesterday, 23rd of December, passed 80 miles, I think, right now like 80.58.

00:00:51.612 --> 00:01:07.028
So we're inside of 20 to go by the end of the year, which, unless I have a stroke or get hit by a train or some of my.

00:01:07.028 --> 00:01:09.893
Yeah, no easy day, easy day.

00:01:09.893 --> 00:01:10.334
We got this.

00:01:11.421 --> 00:01:22.409
But I walked out of the house this morning to a wee bit of fog and mist and it reminded me of a fantastic, fantastic short story.

00:01:22.409 --> 00:01:37.391
Actually, I believe it is referred to as a novella, yeah, a novella by Frederick Forsythe, a great British writer, and it is called the Shepherd.

00:01:37.391 --> 00:01:49.209
It's called the Shepherd If you've never heard of it, if you've never read it, and I think I mean I know it's happening, but I think it's Apple TV that's doing it.

00:01:49.209 --> 00:01:54.149
They made a let me call it a movie.

00:01:54.149 --> 00:02:00.162
It's a short, one episode and they turned it into an Apple TV.

00:02:00.162 --> 00:02:05.012
I'm pretty sure it's Apple TV is the platform, but never heard of it before.

00:02:05.012 --> 00:02:10.189
It was a book recommendation, a recommendation put out by Jack Carr.

00:02:10.189 --> 00:02:14.271
And if you don't know Jack Carr, shame on you.

00:02:14.271 --> 00:02:30.754
I'm not sure I'm gonna probably have to seriously reevaluate the nature of our friendship, but former Navy team guy and a fantastic New York Times bestselling author, really I'm a huge fan.

00:02:30.754 --> 00:02:37.675
But he puts out book recommendations, gear recommendations and all that, and he recommended it.

00:02:37.675 --> 00:02:39.401
So I bought the book.

00:02:39.762 --> 00:02:40.042
Read it.

00:02:40.042 --> 00:02:42.586
I'll tell you what it is.

00:02:42.586 --> 00:02:45.072
I'm not gonna say anything else.

00:02:45.072 --> 00:02:51.848
Right, it's a foggy, rainy Christmas Eve, the shepherd.

00:02:51.848 --> 00:02:53.611
Download it.

00:02:53.611 --> 00:02:55.574
It's a short, short read.

00:02:55.574 --> 00:02:58.147
It's a short listen, christmas Eve.

00:02:58.147 --> 00:02:59.633
Download it.

00:02:59.633 --> 00:03:03.507
Listen to it today while you're doing your last minute preparation, right.

00:03:03.979 --> 00:03:10.342
Then, after you've read it or listened to it, watch this video again and check out like the lighting.

00:03:10.342 --> 00:03:19.412
I didn't do this lighting on purpose, it's just if I didn't turn on the overhead, don't light here wouldn't see me at all and it would freak me out a little bit.

00:03:19.412 --> 00:03:25.790
Anyway, read it, listen to it while you're prepping today, a little meal prep, whatever.

00:03:25.790 --> 00:03:31.853
And after you do that, watch this video again and check out like the surreal nature of it.

00:03:31.853 --> 00:03:33.526
The Shepherd, you'll love it.

00:03:33.526 --> 00:03:34.270
It's a great book.

00:03:34.270 --> 00:03:35.837
Merry Christmas Eve.

00:03:35.837 --> 00:03:45.395
We're gonna go long, some miles for the benefit of the Stop Soldier Suicide Organization, and it's just.

00:03:45.395 --> 00:04:00.598
Merry Christmas to all the men and women who are not spending this holiday with their families because they are overseas watching out for the rest of us, and they deserve our love and support.

00:04:00.598 --> 00:04:06.751
Right, I turn this off without causing an auto-catastrophe, alright later.