Schooling Struggle

Another 5x5 session. If you are not familiar we cycle through five (5) questions/statements providing our response, and sometimes go a bit deeper and sidebar. 1) If everyone did x everyday, the world would be a better place. 2) What is something that you have learned recently? 3) What is a current struggle in your life? 4) What scares you? 5) Name a specific aspect you will look back upon with nostalgic fondness.

Walking (if we are able) is good for many things in life, physically and mentally. In this installment we welcome (back) Doug and his friend Eli. Their winding tale involves friendship, challenge, discomfort, planning, expectation, resilience, and realism. How what sometimes begins with a simple idea, helps us navigate so many other aspects of life that we cannot always perceive when starting something new.

The trio (Todd, Wild Bill, and Peter) come together to discuss standards, social circles, negative self-talk, , labels and narratives around how our history shapes who we are yet also serve as tools to be better. Included are tips and tricks to help us see greatness in ourselves, to move forward.

Iaen Ellis - Todd's youngest son joins the show to chat about a myriad of topics including challenges that accompany growing up with ADHD, starting a new life across the country, and takeaways he can utilize from a lifetime of his father's modeling.

The guys share some recent physical and emotional struggles they have each been navigating as of late. The conversation melds into the role that pain plays in human lives. Todd & Pete cover a range of topics under this umbrella such as what can be learned from pain, it's challenges, and specifically 14 benefits of pain.

Grounded Series Episode - Guest Nick Wolfe Peter invites Mr. Wolfe to share struggles and what lessons they have held for him. From homesteading to child rearing, and attacks of anxiety among all stops along the way. Wolfe has a wealth of interesting insights and approaches to all things mindset. If you're new to the show, we (Peter and Todd) mix in our own struggle experiences into a mosaic of messiness, weaving in direction and depth.

Habits. What they are, where they come from, and how we can impliment new ones in our lives. Leveraging four steps from James Clear's guidance, Peter uses Todd as a subject, in real time to vet and explore the steps. Todd's topic is trash (literally), rather taking the trash to the road for pickup. How we speak to ourselves, the way we identify as something, this is the first step. As the other steps unfold, so too does our conversation within the context of our respective lives and how our habits evolve as well as other around us. Full of tactical tips about starting, stopping, and replacing habits. James Clear's summary of Atomic Habits

Definition: grounded - Sensible and reasonable Adjective. If you say that someone is grounded, you mean they understand the importance of ordinary things in life. Heather Pogue (mother, wife, & teacher) shares what keeps her grounded throughout the midst of strife and life challenge. She discusses the nuances of navigating the challenges that accompany teaching in inner city Chicago and beyond. Heather also discusses the tactical approaches she takes to remaining calm when life gets overwhelming and the habits she strives to instill in an effort to be the best version of herself.

Comparison is the Thief of Joy and the Foundation of Unhappiness... Weaving our way through the levels of comparison - how we see its many facets and understand how it manifests in our lives.  The overall conversation focuses on the difference between comparison and expectation, where we see it around us, how we know it impacts us, and how respond to what it can teach us.

Todd, Pete, & Dr. Bill each share 3 pieces of "Life Advice" which can better described as, "Stuff that works for us & may or may not work for you!" Plus Todd drops a bonus #10! The guys cover a brought range of topics from guilt and self-talk to fat loss. Enjoy! 

This bi-annual episode features the "Ask Me Anything" questions that Pete's students recently posed to him in class. The guys cover a range topics that are as deep as a dried up puddle to 20,000 leagues under the sea and everything in between.

Guest Speaker - Jordy Allard: college baseball player and student. Peter and Todd share space and conversation with our guest, Jordy, discussing all things at the intersection of life and athletics. Jordy shares with us his life's progression, the pieces of it, and what he has uncovered so far.  From family support structures to individual expansion, our struggles lead the way to discovery and growth. Contact us: SchoolingStruggle@gmail.com https://aka.ms/SchoolingStruggle/Feedback

Peter and Todd exercise another five-by-five session (the five questions below).  The design - Peter springs five questions, which each of us put our thoughts and answers to while we discuss and share related points around each.  Ideally, we try to cap the responses to five minutes per question, for the first four, and the fifth question without constraint. 1.   What is an issue in the field of health and wellness which people should be aware of and/or talking about? 2.  This is going to make me sound old, but I’m going to say ________, regardless. 3.  What is one life decision that if you could take back and redo, you would? 4.  When was the time when you were most physically uncomfortable, by choice? 5.  What is something you've recently learned that you find yourself pondering and contemplating? We are experimenting with our show notes format (as you may have observed above) in contrast to our typical layout.  If you have feedback about that, or any other thoughts, feedback, questions, random musings, or anything else… please contact us using the methods below. Contact us: SchoolingStruggle@gmail.com https://aka.ms/SchoolingStruggle/Feedback

Peter and I discuss success. What that word means and holds for us individually, how the idea has changed over time, and in different spaces of areas of our lives.  How do we get insight from and share perspective to those around us, in this regard, of success. Success definition = The accomplishment of an aim or a purpose. Mental habit / action / tool examples: Question the ideals behind what drives your definition of success, personally. Leveraging the perspective of others around us to hone our actions in areas we aspire to do better, can be an especially useful lens to what we ourselves fail to see within ourselves. There is no replacement for time together, between parents and children. Push others to do their best but try not to push them into conformity or your ideas of what that means to you. If you fail to ask, you will fail to understand. Tracking your mindset at points of time (hourly, daily, weekly, …) and mapping the result can help us have awareness of how we are moving, in which direction. Related points: Many hands make light work. As we get older, sometimes we are less willing or able to share with others what we hope to achieve (think audacious goal) to others. Sometimes one’s ‘drive’ is not easy to find or even know what all that encompasses. Is success measured by accomplishment, purely?  The validation of efforts from others? Kids typically do not get a hand in choosing their unique nicknames. Quotes / quips: “If you fall flat on your face, that's a good sign you are moving forward. “ “As long as you are trying and moving toward that which moves you forward, you are succeeding.” “The beautiful want to be seen for their smarts, and the smart want to be seen for their beauty.” “Do the best you can, from where you are, with what you have.” Rando Mentions: Colin O’brady Calm (meditation platform) - www.calm.com Adam Grant Contact us: SchoolingStruggle@gmail.com https://aka.ms/SchoolingStruggle/Feedback

Episode Guest: Doug Anton - Teacher (Social Studies/Economics), and many other hats. We pick the mind of our guest for perspective on financial matters and choices as well as the environment we construct and place ourselves in (socially).  Shared along the way are frameworks for thinking about these things, as well as lessons learned and tips and tricks. Mental habit / action / tool examples: Financial wellness = to be financially and economically fit and well. To be financially fit = Are your short-term needs and wants taken care of, and do you have a reliable long-term plan? Physical wellness and financial wellness can complement each other.  Look for strengths within yourself and others, and leverage those to amplify success. Very few choices in our life are all or nothing.  Use decisions at the edge to focus on the present yet do not 'dent' the future. If we spend money on things which align to our goals, this is an investment in self. Look for opportunity in everything, and constantly as we move forward, and things shift. Related points: Key to success in life?  Maybe delay of gratification. One way to think of moving forward is how are what we are doing in the present. Be aware of the people whom you surround yourself with, these relationships have a significant impact on one's environment. We can aspire to be in a way, and not always hit the mark all the time.  Be kind to yourself and give space and grace. Evidence based research can be useful when considering ice cream intake and timing. Few thumbs up (in social environments) for maxing out your ROTH contributions - more for bankrupting yourself to purchase a flashy car. Quotes / quips: “Be willing to give up what you want now, for what you want most." "We can shape our environment in order to improve our fitness in any element." "If you are only living for the future, you'll have a pretty bad time on the way there." "Social interaction is the fabric of what makes us human and what makes human lives meaningful." "The way the world is, is not always the way the world seems." "Nothing is certain, but we can often shift the odds in our favor, by shifting your environment." Rando Mentions: Marshmallow Test Revisited Opportunity Mindset Choice architecture Contact us: SchoolingStruggle@gmail.com https://aka.ms/SchoolingStruggle/Feedback  

Episode Guest: Adam Adatto Sandel - philosopher, (previous) Guinness World Record holder for Most Pull-Ups in One Minute (68), and an award-winning teacher, author, and current assistant D.A. in Brooklyn NY. Much discussion about pull-ups, philosophy, world records... Mental habit / action / tool examples: Sometimes frustration can become a realization of opportunity. Listening to the limitations of your own body can lead to meaningful transformation. Stacking what we learn from previous experiences has utility in the next endeavors we undertake. Beware of getting wrapped up in a goal, no matter the topic. There exists a relationship between many efforts physically and things in our natural environment. Philosophy can serve as a framework for deeper connection, awareness of the deeper levels of connectedness we experience throughout life. Try to keep an open awareness of obsession around goals.  When things you see somehow in your mind, carry you back to the obsession, this is a flag. Qualities of character define us outside our typical endeavors. Friendships - are important in the exchange and deep meaning of what that word means to us all.  Allies, Friends, Acquaintances. Related points: Drop and give me twenty push-ups, often it is not thrilling. Sometimes in the rain, it can seem like your running pace is expedited.  Sometimes pullups trump what can be gleaned from law school. Don’t be afraid of letting go (holding less tightly) when you get too close and become overly obsessed in goal chasing. Happiness.  It most often involves overcoming some sort of hardship. Quotes / quips: "If I’m encountering these difficulties, could it actually be nature’s way of telling me I need to go in a different direction?” “Sport can take you into a different zone, a more expansive zone, where you can appreciate the world around you in a new way and shift your perspective on things.” “When we get too hung up on the goal, it can be damaging.  As a result, we can lose an appreciation for the activity itself.” “What can I take from this experience that's going to last, that I can carry forward.” “If you have a passion, if you’re motivated, go for it!” “If you want good neighbors, be a good neighbor - same goes for friends.” “Happiness isn't something you find, rather a way of acting/being.” “A life that is happy, is a life that involves meaningful struggles. And ones that fit into a narrative that you can own up to.” Rando Mentions: Chest to Bar Pullups Harvard Philosophy Department Amazon.com: Adam Adatto Sandel: Books, Biography, Blog, Audiobooks, Kindle Guiness Book of World Record

One year, from concept and first action - that went fast – this a retrospective.  We talk about what has transpired, what we think about it, what we’ve learned, and what comes next for us. Key Questions: Q. What have you learned about yourself thought he podcast? Q. What’s the perspective about how the podcast fit into your life? Mental habit / action / tool examples: - Always look for ways you can learn new things from seemingly mundane actions. - Try not to reach too far for what seems appropriate for an audience – rather do it for something that resonates within you. - Always lean into what’s uncomfortable – what is hard for you. - Sharpen an awareness which allows you to observe current actions, especially those which are not working toward your intentions. - Giving ourselves in a meaningful way can serve as an example (to ourselves and others) of how we aspire to be. - See the lens of what you do but realize that that lens is not who you are. - Sometimes the things which drain us are not of our making.  Keep a vigilant eye. Related points: - Peter loves podcasting, and he never thought it would be as rich as an experience when we began. - Portal, the term can be scary - ask Peter.  Magic happens there. - Launching a podcast from an iPhone 6, is a path potentially fraught with danger. - WWPD – What would Peter do? - If you have a podcast (or similar platform), people may be more likely to engage and join a conversation, than just a coffee chat or random call. - Text exchanges with Todd can drive you mad with a blast of fragmented responses. Quotes / quips: - “It’s a very difficult thing to be always aligned with the person you wish you were.” - “Remember why you started.” - “If I verbalize that I’m going to do something, I am more likely to do it.” - “I don’t want my students to be done being my students when the day or semester ends, I want to be their teacher for life.” - “It’s like a pen pal, but fast forward.” Rando Mentions: - The Pete Driscoll Vlog - Pen Pals - ASB – Associated Student Body Contact us: SchoolingStruggle@gmail.com https://aka.ms/SchoolingStruggle/Feedback 

Episode Guest: Steve McCloskey This episode is all about continuums.  Exploring the depths, contexts, and contrasts of (or between) several levels.  This of course dives into all related areas and nuances which may overlap or are derivatives of those terms.   Interesting Question (also in the poll):     - Do you need to love yourself, to love someone else? Mental habit / action / tool examples: Kindness is more than treating someone in a pleasant way.  Sometimes it's more than what's nice or comfortable. Can you be equally kind to people who you know, and those you do not, alike? Which criteria predicate how we determine our response to others? Seek activities where you know that what you are giving of yourself is used to better of be of utility to others. It is not wrong to have boundaries for your time and how / when / why others seek or receive it. Consider that there are different lived experiences and circumstances of specific things across the world.  Some examples, poverty, privilege.  Be aware of the true relativity of how those things play into your intentions. Joy has more depth and longevity than simple happiness. Acknowledging and expressing fully emotions, letting them swell and release.  This unblocks the dept of emotions we can accept and feel. Sometimes what we want now is not aligned with what we want most.  To get what we want most, we need to look past what we want now. Related points: What is the difference between nice/polite/civil and kind? The language we use is dynamic.  It changes over time. Very few individuals aspire to simply be 'nice' in life. It's easier for some to intentionally help people in physical proximity. If you want an autograph, get in line but try not to be 103rd in line. A home without a foundation doesn't give much to build upon. "Love" can have many different meanings and contexts. There is much strife in parenting. Sometimes in Peter's mind, joy can conjure images of peaches and rainbows. Kindness can be costly. Quotes / quips: "You can have anything you want, but you cannot have everything you want." "Niceness is to kindness, as happiness is to joy." "It is so easy to do easy things in life.  Be the type of person that is willing to do challenging things." "If you don't have good well-maintained care for self, then the care for others will be diminished or others." "The way you do anything, is the way you do everything." "Don't postpone joy." "We have to embrace discomfort for something deeper and more durable in the long run." Rando Mentions: The Ohio State University Princeton Theological Seminary Amanda Barnhart - CrossFit Contact us: SchoolingStruggle@gmail.com https://aka.ms/SchoolingStruggle/Feedback 

Peter brings reality through sharing a few recent experiences with his family, one which gave him a pause and point to reflect on what the people in our lives can teach us if we slow down to observe their model. Mental habit / action / tool examples: Slow down with your frantic needs.  Try to be a human 'be'ing not a human doing. W.A.I.T = Why Am I Talking If you are willing to embrace challenges, try to slow down and look for the beauty within that challenge and what you can learn, rather than just rush to the finish line. Humans seek consistency for reliability and trust, yet at the same time a balance of change to keep it interesting. Authentic experiences are those which can be absorbed through the human senses without corporate intervention. Ponder relying less on what humans bring to the world to be satisfied or fulfilled during the day. Be less dependent on the niceties of life and commerce. Don't use "can't" alone, always follow it with "yet".   Sometimes it's easier to remove small squares of carpet over time, to prompt you to eventually replace it. Related points: Todd's patio in Parkland sometimes sounds like a raceway. Sometimes knees need three servings of surgery. Picking flowers should never be annoying, even mildly so. Peter sees no utility in smores, disliking marshmallows. Running/moving water and dancing fire can be alluring because they are consistent yet always evolving, interesting, and engaging. Kids love holes filled with water (think swimming pools). The utility of human connection appears to be increasingly obfuscated. Sticks and rocks and leaves are great materials for constructing fairy houses. Quotes / quips: "Your children will teach you the things that you miss no matter what." "Every single person you interact with plays a role in your life." "Rely on yourself, to be with yourself." "The busyness of the world is magnified by those who teach the world's perceived expectations." Rando Mentions: The episode about Todd and his daughter's deep conversation. Life Is Not a Journey - Alan Watts Contact us: SchoolingStruggle@gmail.com https://aka.ms/SchoolingStruggle/Feedback 

Here we meet one of Peter's former students, Camden.  A measurable undertaking with the heaviest weight of 292 pounds, Camden shares with us his journey, his wins, losses, and learned lessons - as well as his future and how he is moving forward. Mental habit / action / tool examples: 99.9% of engaged parents genuinely believe are doing the best they are able. Be aware as you slip into new habits, try to remain sharp to what you're trading off for new ones. Weight moves weight, but physics doesn't mean carrying around excess body fat upon your skeleton is a good thing. A shift in surroundings and environment can be a powerful catalyst for change.  These changes can snowball.  Quickly. Moving outside our typical 'comfort zone' expedites our ability to be resilient and open to adopting new habits or behaviors. Being accountable to/for other living things (plant, animal, human) helps us reach beyond our own needs. A new habit recipe often encompasses things which are enjoyable, sustainable, and which move us closer to our goals. It can be daunting when weight loss begins, as it can be difficult to 'see' the difference in how you look physically.  Tracking what you eat very closely can be a very great tool and point of awareness. Watching ourselves grow in a positive way often rewards us with internal motivation and confidence. Slight changes in diet and habits can have profound and compounding impacts. Related points: Hard to water the grass during a drought. 113 pounds is a massive endeavor Three people Petering (calling Pete, Peter), is worth mention. and an honor. Divorce can seed behaviors for a host of reasons. It can be a struggle to eat healthily if you are working in a restaurant kitchen. Walking in Florida, where it is often hot and humid, can be a recipe for perspiration.  As a podcast host, it's easy to accidentally ask more than one question at a time. Shockingly high calorie foods include nuts, peanut butter, oils, dressings. Don't let extra skin deter you from losing weight. Quotes / quips: Somehow nothing to report here. Rando Mentions: Daytona Beach, FL Farm Strong Pace University, New York Norwegian Elkhound Turkey Trot Paper Towel Effect MyFitnessPal - Calorie Counting App TDEE - calorie burn calculator  Contact us: SchoolingStruggle@gmail.com https://aka.ms/SchoolingStruggle/Feedback