Some Lighter Fare, or . . .
Here's what I write when it's podcast week and my team is in the playoffs.
Okay, readers, this is a light writing week for me. Between working on my podcast, “Higher Callings” (next episode drops this Tuesday), and watching my Boston Red Sox make every game a long, drawn-out adventure (Two grand slams in one game? Really?), I just haven’t had the time to think about the next edition, let alone write it. So, with your indulgence, I thought I’d just jot down a few developments and thoughts until next time.
First, podcasting. It is a lot of work, especially if you do what I do and try valiantly to shorten each interview to a palatable length and then create a transcript using some pretty good but far from perfect transcription software. But it is also a lot of fun to spend time talking with my amazing guests and reflecting on what they have to say and what I can learn from the exemplary lives they’ve led. I hope some of you are checking it out. My guests have always been great, which is the most important thing, and I think I am getting better at doing the interviews and crafting them into a shape that will entertain and enrich our listeners without wasting their time.
Then, there’s baseball. I know I already did a post about the Red Sox, but my goodness, what a crazy ride they’re on! I used to think Mookie Betts was the best baseball player I’d ever seen (and he probably still is), but Kike Hernandez is making a run for that title. And here’s the lesson I take away from Kike’s post-season pyrotechnics: You can perform brilliantly at whatever you do, and sometimes your team will win because of your performance, and sometimes they will lose despite your performance. You can’t control every bounce of the ball, or your teammates’ or opponents’ play, or the judgment of the umpires, or the weather conditions, or many other things. But if you always give your best effort and never give up, you improve your team’s chances and can leave the game satisfied that you did your part. We always want to win, but committing to excellence is rewarding even when we lose. That’s true in sports, in law, in parenting, and in all of life’s pursuits.
As for recent developments, I have resumed reading “War and Peace” and am about a quarter of the way through; my wife found a signed copy of a book of poetry by Robert Pinsky that I forgot existed and am happy to have back (at least I think it’s mine); the fall weather on Cape Cod continues to delight; and on my walk today I made a new friend, pictured below. And have you seen the new Jon Stewart show on AppleTV? The first episode dealt with an important issue but I thought it lacked Stewart’s usual ability to introduce it with biting humor. He redeemed himself in Episode 2.
So, friends, I’ll try to do better next week. My podcast usually drops every other Tuesday, so I may start writing these missives only on the off weeks, but we’ll see. Have a great week and thanks for reading. Remember, pursue what gives you joy, and when and if you can, let go of the rest. And an important corollary: helping those in need will always give you joy!
Oh, yes, here is the picture I took of my new friend, taken in the wild about an hour ago:
