1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:09,840 Have there been any decisions that you have made or because you felt like it was what 2 00:00:09,840 --> 00:00:14,920 you were supposed to do and less about what you really wanted to do? 3 00:00:14,920 --> 00:00:17,760 Pure pressure can be powerful. 4 00:00:17,760 --> 00:00:24,200 On today's first episode of Life's Next Lesson Plan Podcast, Rachel Rauch, that's me, high 5 00:00:24,200 --> 00:00:29,840 school teacher for three decades, shares her vision for this podcast along with a lesson 6 00:00:29,840 --> 00:00:35,840 on creating your ideal life based on the teachings of American Transcendentalists. 7 00:00:35,840 --> 00:00:40,960 And yes, class, the homework is optional. 8 00:00:40,960 --> 00:00:47,560 Hello and welcome to my first episode of my Life's Next Lesson Plan Podcast. 9 00:00:47,560 --> 00:00:51,680 Thank you so much for joining me on this new endeavor. 10 00:00:51,680 --> 00:00:56,600 I'll start by introducing myself for anyone listening who doesn't know me. 11 00:00:56,600 --> 00:00:57,600 I'm Rachel. 12 00:00:57,600 --> 00:01:01,160 I'm a 51 year old mom in Wisconsin. 13 00:01:01,160 --> 00:01:09,720 I have a 17 and a half year old daughter and a dog and a cat and I love, love animals. 14 00:01:09,720 --> 00:01:17,080 I decided this year I am going to end my three decades long career as an English teacher 15 00:01:17,080 --> 00:01:23,400 and actually explore new passions instead of just talking or dreaming about them. 16 00:01:23,400 --> 00:01:30,120 Outside of being a teacher and a mom, my interests are career next steps, learning and education, 17 00:01:30,120 --> 00:01:38,640 health and wellness, despite my love for pizza and non-alcoholic Guinness, travel and lifestyle 18 00:01:38,640 --> 00:01:41,880 and storytelling. 19 00:01:41,880 --> 00:01:47,920 One thing I hear over and over from retired educators is the loss of identity is difficult 20 00:01:47,920 --> 00:01:49,880 after leaving teaching. 21 00:01:49,880 --> 00:01:55,520 Especially for those of us who've been teachers for our entire adult lives. 22 00:01:55,520 --> 00:02:00,720 So this podcast is a way for me to explore a new adventure, but staying rooted in my 23 00:02:00,720 --> 00:02:07,920 education background by putting some of what I taught as a journalism teacher to the test 24 00:02:07,920 --> 00:02:15,400 and still sharing some of my knowledge that I used to share in the classroom for 30 years. 25 00:02:15,400 --> 00:02:19,960 At the same time, my goal is to connect with others looking to take their next steps in 26 00:02:19,960 --> 00:02:25,240 life, whether that be personal or career related. 27 00:02:25,240 --> 00:02:31,280 To bridge my transition out of education, you'll find that this podcast follows a similar structure 28 00:02:31,280 --> 00:02:34,040 to what I did in the classroom. 29 00:02:34,040 --> 00:02:40,080 Twice a month I'll have solo episodes where I share a lesson and we put it into action 30 00:02:40,080 --> 00:02:46,400 and the other two weeks of the month I will have a guest with me doing the same. 31 00:02:46,400 --> 00:02:53,160 These might involve other former educators or actually former students who have gone 32 00:02:53,160 --> 00:02:56,680 on to create their dream lives. 33 00:02:56,680 --> 00:03:03,480 Each podcast will have a brief lecture or lesson followed by an activity to engage you 34 00:03:03,480 --> 00:03:07,520 and some optional homework. 35 00:03:07,520 --> 00:03:13,400 This aspect will remind me of my school days where let's face it, some students thought 36 00:03:13,400 --> 00:03:17,000 homework was optional. 37 00:03:17,000 --> 00:03:20,800 It is my hope that by engaging in each lesson and completing the homework, you'll learn 38 00:03:20,800 --> 00:03:26,120 something new but also uncover ideas for your life's next lesson plan. 39 00:03:26,120 --> 00:03:28,800 However you want to look at that. 40 00:03:28,800 --> 00:03:33,080 This podcast is not just for educators or midlifers though. 41 00:03:33,080 --> 00:03:39,200 The ideas can apply to any stage of life for anyone searching to feel more fulfilled. 42 00:03:39,200 --> 00:03:46,560 With that said, let's dig into today's lesson. 43 00:03:46,560 --> 00:03:50,920 Likely half of my career I spent teaching American literature and besides teaching the 44 00:03:50,920 --> 00:03:55,640 great Gatsby, my favorite unit was probably the Transcendentalists. 45 00:03:55,640 --> 00:03:58,080 Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau. 46 00:03:58,080 --> 00:04:03,000 In a nutshell, these writers believed that life should be lived in harmony with nature 47 00:04:03,000 --> 00:04:04,680 and the inner self. 48 00:04:04,680 --> 00:04:10,320 They emphasized the importance of individuality, intuition, and the spiritual connection between 49 00:04:10,320 --> 00:04:12,560 humans and the universe. 50 00:04:12,560 --> 00:04:18,200 I'm going to focus on four key beliefs they shared that always resonated with me and made 51 00:04:18,200 --> 00:04:22,840 me want to adapt these views more intentionally into my own life. 52 00:04:22,840 --> 00:04:28,840 I always felt like my love for Jimmy Buffett, R.I.P. Jimmy, was linked to a transcendental 53 00:04:28,840 --> 00:04:32,480 way of thinking, but I digress. 54 00:04:32,480 --> 00:04:37,400 The first tenant that Transcendentalists believed in was individualism. 55 00:04:37,400 --> 00:04:42,000 Thoreau and Emerson specifically believed that each person has a unique and valuable 56 00:04:42,000 --> 00:04:44,000 perspective on the world. 57 00:04:44,000 --> 00:04:49,280 They encouraged individuals to trust their own instincts and intuition rather than conforming 58 00:04:49,280 --> 00:04:51,720 to societal norms. 59 00:04:51,720 --> 00:04:54,040 Think about that for a moment. 60 00:04:54,040 --> 00:04:59,240 Have there been any decisions you have made more because you felt like it was what you 61 00:04:59,240 --> 00:05:05,640 were supposed to do and less about what you really wanted to do? 62 00:05:05,640 --> 00:05:08,880 Peer pressure is powerful. 63 00:05:08,880 --> 00:05:13,320 The second tenant in Transcendentalism is nature. 64 00:05:13,320 --> 00:05:18,440 Transcendentalists saw nature as a source of inspiration, beauty, and spiritual enlightenment. 65 00:05:18,440 --> 00:05:22,240 They believed that spending time in nature could help individuals connect with a higher 66 00:05:22,240 --> 00:05:26,200 power and discover their true selves. 67 00:05:26,200 --> 00:05:31,360 Speaking for myself, I know I always feel better after a dog walk or a time on the water 68 00:05:31,360 --> 00:05:32,840 in my orange whip. 69 00:05:32,840 --> 00:05:35,720 Yes, I have a name for my kayak. 70 00:05:35,720 --> 00:05:37,840 You'll probably hear a lot about it. 71 00:05:37,840 --> 00:05:43,720 I haven't stripped myself of life's non-essentials and lived in a tiny cabin along Walden Pond, 72 00:05:43,720 --> 00:05:49,880 like Thoreau, but I am proud of my bravery to go tent camping with my very transcendental 73 00:05:49,880 --> 00:05:52,280 significant otherless summer. 74 00:05:52,280 --> 00:05:54,040 Baby steps, guys. 75 00:05:54,040 --> 00:05:56,920 The third tenant is self-reliance. 76 00:05:56,920 --> 00:06:01,480 Thoreau and Emerson emphasize the importance of self-reliance and independence. 77 00:06:01,480 --> 00:06:05,720 They believe that individuals should be able to take care of themselves and make their 78 00:06:05,720 --> 00:06:09,200 own decisions without relying on others. 79 00:06:09,200 --> 00:06:11,480 How does that resonate with you? 80 00:06:11,480 --> 00:06:15,960 Are you confident making a decision without outside approval? 81 00:06:15,960 --> 00:06:21,840 Or to do what Emerson suggests and not go where the path may lead, but to go instead where 82 00:06:21,840 --> 00:06:26,120 there is no path and leave a trail? 83 00:06:26,120 --> 00:06:32,280 Trailblazing is certainly vulnerable, but potentially life-altering. 84 00:06:32,280 --> 00:06:36,720 And the last tenant we'll talk about today is simplicity. 85 00:06:36,720 --> 00:06:41,080 Transcendentalists advocated for a simple and minimalist lifestyle. 86 00:06:41,080 --> 00:06:44,680 Free from material possessions and distractions. 87 00:06:44,680 --> 00:06:51,080 They believed that a simpler life would allow individuals to focus on what is truly important. 88 00:06:51,080 --> 00:06:57,880 Yeah, this one I have caught to appreciate after moving four times in the last three 89 00:06:57,880 --> 00:07:00,160 years. 90 00:07:00,160 --> 00:07:02,960 Possessions do not make us happy. 91 00:07:02,960 --> 00:07:06,200 There is so much to be said for this one. 92 00:07:06,200 --> 00:07:10,800 My best memories have come from times when I had the least. 93 00:07:10,800 --> 00:07:15,240 Anything time in my grandma and grandpa's home with one bathroom were the happiest times 94 00:07:15,240 --> 00:07:16,240 in my life. 95 00:07:16,240 --> 00:07:19,440 And by the way, they had ten children. 96 00:07:19,440 --> 00:07:23,960 And countless grandchildren who I know would agree with me. 97 00:07:23,960 --> 00:07:29,640 Overall, Thoreau and Emerson believe that life should be lived with purpose, meaning, 98 00:07:29,640 --> 00:07:33,040 and a deep connection to nature and the inner self. 99 00:07:33,040 --> 00:07:38,360 Their ideas continue to inspire people today and have had a lasting impact on American 100 00:07:38,360 --> 00:07:40,840 culture and philosophy. 101 00:07:40,840 --> 00:07:46,560 A hundred percent of this philosophy is a big part of why I made my decision to leave 102 00:07:46,560 --> 00:07:51,160 teaching and shift the trajectory of my life. 103 00:07:51,160 --> 00:08:01,200 So let's shift out of our lesson now to our personal goals or my personal next lesson plan 104 00:08:01,200 --> 00:08:03,600 in life. 105 00:08:03,600 --> 00:08:08,880 After this school year, I will soon be an empty nester while also leaving the only full-time 106 00:08:08,880 --> 00:08:11,120 career I have ever known. 107 00:08:11,120 --> 00:08:15,960 I thought about what this time in my life would look like a lot. 108 00:08:15,960 --> 00:08:21,560 And every time I really just wanted to have time to slow down, to follow my heart, and 109 00:08:21,560 --> 00:08:26,600 not the pressures of society, and to appreciate the small things in life. 110 00:08:26,600 --> 00:08:30,760 Well, and go to the bathroom when I want. 111 00:08:30,760 --> 00:08:32,480 Let's stop for a moment. 112 00:08:32,480 --> 00:08:37,360 If I were still in the classroom, this is where I would have my students take out a notebook 113 00:08:37,360 --> 00:08:41,760 and do what we call in education a quick write. 114 00:08:41,760 --> 00:08:46,560 You can write out your response, or if you'd prefer to just close your eyes unless you're 115 00:08:46,560 --> 00:08:51,760 driving, of course, and just visualize your answer. 116 00:08:51,760 --> 00:08:58,160 What three aspects are most important to you in life? 117 00:08:58,160 --> 00:09:03,080 You could look at this maybe as your three top values. 118 00:09:03,080 --> 00:09:06,560 What do you wish you had more time for? 119 00:09:06,560 --> 00:09:12,680 Or if money were not a factor, how would you build your dream life? 120 00:09:12,680 --> 00:09:23,960 Feel free to pause this audio now to write or to think about this. 121 00:09:23,960 --> 00:09:28,680 Next we're going to move on to turning today's lesson into your optional homework. 122 00:09:28,680 --> 00:09:32,320 Again, this is something you could visualize in your head. 123 00:09:32,320 --> 00:09:36,840 Or because I've always wanted to do this, but no one ever held me to it, I'm actually 124 00:09:36,840 --> 00:09:40,440 going to create my first vision board. 125 00:09:40,440 --> 00:09:46,320 This could start as simply as a list of visuals and quotes that are meaningful for you, or 126 00:09:46,320 --> 00:09:52,780 it could turn into a colorful collage created by cutting out photos and quotes from magazines. 127 00:09:52,780 --> 00:09:57,880 After many years as a yearbook teacher for me, I'm going to opt for creating a digital 128 00:09:57,880 --> 00:10:01,760 vision board using Canva. 129 00:10:01,760 --> 00:10:06,400 To show that I've completed my homework, I'll post my vision board on Instagram and 130 00:10:06,400 --> 00:10:12,000 Facebook, and I invite you to share your goals for your dream life. 131 00:10:12,000 --> 00:10:17,160 If there were no parameters, what would your dream life look like? 132 00:10:17,160 --> 00:10:25,440 Let's manifest our next stage together. 133 00:10:25,440 --> 00:10:30,720 Thank you so much for joining me in some soul searching and learning about the American 134 00:10:30,720 --> 00:10:33,680 Transcendentalists today. 135 00:10:33,680 --> 00:10:38,360 Next week I'm going to have my first guest, who will be here to share his next lesson 136 00:10:38,360 --> 00:10:43,960 plan and teach you using his multiple decades spent in education. 137 00:10:43,960 --> 00:10:48,560 Many of you will know him, and I'm excited to have him on. 138 00:10:48,560 --> 00:10:53,240 If you'd like to subscribe to our email list for special offers, send us your email at 139 00:10:53,240 --> 00:10:56,960 nextlessonplanatgmail.com. 140 00:10:56,960 --> 00:11:01,880 This month I'm giving away an Amazon gift card to a lucky winner on our email list. 141 00:11:01,880 --> 00:11:07,040 And as a special thank you for listening, I've put a link in the show notes to editable 142 00:11:07,040 --> 00:11:12,160 slides on teaching the Transcendentalists and creating a Transcendental Vision Board 143 00:11:12,160 --> 00:11:13,920 with your students. 144 00:11:13,920 --> 00:11:18,960 Teachers feel free to adapt the slides for a unit in your own classroom. 145 00:11:18,960 --> 00:11:23,840 You can also share with someone you think might find these slides useful. 146 00:11:23,840 --> 00:11:29,040 In the meantime, don't forget to hit that subscribe button on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, 147 00:11:29,040 --> 00:11:30,680 and iHeart Radio. 148 00:11:30,680 --> 00:11:36,280 And be sure to follow us on Instagram and Facebook at Life's Next Lesson Plan for all 149 00:11:36,280 --> 00:11:39,280 the behind the scenes content and updates. 150 00:11:39,280 --> 00:11:49,640 You can't wait to hear all about your ideal vision for your life.