Be the Candle

In this third episode, I offer you an interview with my dear friend, Ron Jackenthal of Park City, Utah. Ron's son, Sam, died at the age of 16 while training in Australia as a top-ranked US Junior Freestyle Skier. Sam understood at a very young age what it felt like to fly. His life was large and full of joy and generosity. The root of the story in this interview, however, is not Sam. Rather, it is about a father who is redefining himself while he walks in healing. Daily, he is reminded to discard the baggage that holds him down in exchange for what sends him forward. He continues sharing the example of Sam's life through the foundation, Live Like Sam, where delivering support and education to young athletes to help them succeed on and off their field of sport is the mission. I stand in gratitude to Ron for sharing his time, heart, and courage in this emotional interview. Edith Wharton said, "There are two ways of spreading the light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it." On his walk, like his son Sam was, Ron is the candle.