Brian JohnsonChairman & Philosopher in Residence at Heroic

The First Day of School: Emerson and Ralph Waldo on… (Heroic +1 #1,908)

17 Dec 2025 · 2 min

Episode

17 Dec 2025 · 2 min

0:00

Brian Johnson records a short Heroic +1 podcast reflecting on his children (Emerson and Eleanor) leaving for the first day of nature school in Austin. He notes they homeschool but attend a nature school outside Austin once or twice a week; today marked "day one, number five" since moving to Austin (they've lived there five years). Emerson observes he used to be nervous about school but no longer is because he's done it many times. Brian quotes Ralph Waldo Emerson—"always do the thing you fear"—and uses it as the episode's plus-one: lean into nervousness, recognize growth happens outside the comfort zone, and take action when fear appears.

Questions this episode answers

Once or twice a week.

Outside of Austin.

Five years.

Emerson and Eleanor.

Chapters

Hi, this is Brian. Welcome back to another heroic plus one. I'm typing this after helping mom get the kids off for the first day of school. Although we homeschool Emerson and Eleanor, they go to a nature school outside of Austin once or twice a week. Today was day one, number five. Hard to believe we've already been here in Austin for five years. Time truly flies now. The kids were excited this morning, especially Emerson. While buzzing around the kitchen, he just said, I can't believe I used to be nervous about going to school. It's true. When he was younger, the first day and the second day and the third day of the little nature class he'd go to in Ojai wasn't preceded by moments of excitement, if you know what I mean. A lot of screaming. So I asked him, why do you think you're no longer nervous? And he said, because I've done it a lot of times. To which I said, exactly. Then, of course, I had to throw in some wisdom from his namesake. So I said, you know what Ralph Waldo once had to say about that? He said, always, always, always, always do what you were afraid to do and do the thing you fear. And the death of fear is certain. And that's today's plus one. The next time we feel that little niggle of nerves before we do something, seriously, the very next time you feel it, let's remember the fact that our infinite potential exists just outside of our comfort zone. And by definition, that feels uncomfortable. Then let's smile, say, bring it on, and go do the thing we're afraid to do. Repeat all day, every day, especially today.