The Dream Dean

January 23, 2021

Meditation: Lullaby for Grown Ups (Liquid Mind) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hyqss5-_AFM

Question: What is one quality you embody today you hope you keep for the rest of your life?

Answer: Having the discipline/diligence in all areas of my life like I have with my workout. When I talked about fitness/health being my #1 Personal Core Value, I have been following Kenneth Cooper’s point system from “The Aerobics Program for Total Well-Being” since January 2, 2000. Now, it’s 2021 and I’m still following that system, tracking every workout I’ve done since that first day. If I could have that discipline for other areas of my life, I would be unstoppable! Although I know why I started the program, I can’t seem to figure out why I’ve stuck with it for so, so long! At the end of every year, I wonder if I should stop or just reduce my workout goals – and then I start right back up again the next year. To think that I’ve been tracking this now for 22 years, setting a minimum goal of 175 points a week (about 15 miles a week running, 50 miles a week biking), and at least 750 miles running and 2,500 miles biking every year for 22 years is discipline! I’d like to write a book this year…and I can tell you that I don’t have the same discipline with that as I do with my workouts. Of course, I’m writing this online journal, with the goal of submitting an entry every day in 2021 – and I’ve been good the first 23 days, so that’s a great start!

(Side note #1: I just checked…as of today, I have now worked out for 45 straight days! This 15,000 steps per day thing is going to KICK MY ASS!!!)

(Side note #2: Is there ANYONE out there following Kenneth Cooper’s point system for exercise? I’ve been trying to find SOMEONE that may have at least tried it. I can’t be the ONLY human on the planet who’s using it. One funny thing…I’ve been using it for so long, I’ve actually memorized the formulas to calculate the points earned for running and biking. How bad is that?)

Other Stuff

As I’m posting these journal entries, I’m also teaching three different classes this semester to empower students to take control of their education – and their lives:

• HHS125: What Could I Do With My Life (1 credit)
• HHS135: Redesign a Life You’ll Love (1 credit)
• ENT/HHS250: Purpose-Driven Entrepreneurship, also known (by students) as Side Hustle 101 (3 credits)

I’m working out hard, reading at least 5 articles and multiple chapters of books a day. And then I decided to take a look at the hundreds and hundreds of bookmarks that I’ve saved. As I look at the various courses I’ve taught through the years, I’ve been consistent about what I believe should be the foundation of education – to teach students how to create and live their best life.

With all that said, I’m going to start off with an article that might be a great starting point for our young people today. Here’s the article and the link:

• 21 Things Everyone Should Know About Life – https://www.aconsciousrethink.com/9249/things-know-about-life/

Although I love all of them, I especially find these most important FOR ME at this stage in my life: #4, #5, #7, #8, #9, #11, #12, #14, #15, #17, and #20. That’s 11 out of the 21, although I would argue that they are ALL important – for me, some more important than others. (Hint: If you want to know what the numbers correspond to, read the damn article!)

Imagine a first-year experience that was focused on students understanding and living their best life? These are the most valuable skill that we should invest in for our college students today, not investments in retention and graduation rates. Really? Get students to get clear about themselves and their lives, then they’ll have a legitimate reason to come back to college. Maybe we should be teaching skills on how to live in high school – or throughout K-12? What would this world look like if something like these principles were taught in conjunction with reading, writing, and math?

Okay, no more ranting. How are you doing on the 21 items? What are your thoughts about the article? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section.