There is no clear way to cope with death and grief. Moving forward is often heartbreaking, baffling, and uncertain. So, how do we best honor those we’ve lost? When he was 12-years-old, Navy Seal and backcountry snowboarder Josh Jespersen tragically lost his father. Confused and angry, Josh drifted in school and got into legal trouble. He joined the Navy Seals, where death was a constant. Josh would drink to celebrate the life of his fallen friends, but this led to more legal trouble, more confusion, more anger. Ultimately, Josh realized that the best way to honor the dead was to embark on an outdoor adventure that would amplify their memory. He realized he had to live for those he had lost.
Music: If Walls Could Talk by Jacob Bain and Nis Kotto • Original Score by Brendan O’Connell
Tracks provided with permission from the artists.
While I appreciate Mr. Jespersen’s contribution to our country, there was something very “un-dirtbag” about this episode. Maybe it was his insinuation that those of us who recreate in the outdoors and don’t shoot and kill things outdoors are somehow less worthy of that space. Maybe it was the poor choice of juxtaposing a podcast called Safety Third with a story about a 12 year old accidentally shooting his father. Or maybe it was Josh’s sense of entitlement and lack of understanding that we all experience loss, and his immature reaction to the officer who pulled him over while drunk (thus possibly preventing even more loss at his own hands). He sounds like a great soldier, a great athlete and a great skier. But he doesn’t come off as a dirtbag.
Hi Jay,
I’m not one to say who can or can’t be a dirtbag. I’m more curious about the journeys we take, both physical and mental. To be a part of this community, I don’t think we need to start in the same place or end up in the same place. I believe it takes courage to share imperfect stories. Ideally, I hope those imperfect stories are a touchstone for consideration, empathy, conversation, and introspection. This piece obviously touched a nerve in you. It did for me as well, just in a different way. It definitely made me think. There will always be a home here for stories of people who evaluate their path in life, take a step back and switch course towards a more positive path.
Beautifully stated Fitz