This is the Jocko Underground podcast number one hundred and sixty nine.

Sitting here with Echo Charles, looking to provide some options, some courses of actions, and some answers for troopers out there with questions.

Life's obstacles.

They come.

Yes, sir.

All right.

First question, Jocco, I'm looking for advice on how to cope with the challenges of having a child with special needs.

My wife and I have three kids.

The oldest, 12, has special needs that will require a lifetime of care.

Our reality is different from most, and I accept that.

But I'm having a hard time with the long,

challenging days that for us will likely never end. There's no finish line. I carry the additional

burden of ensuring there is enough money for the child when my wife and I are gone. I've taken the

necessary steps to make sure this happens, but maintaining this

pace is hard. I've always welcomed hard work. I've excelled at work, gone back to grad school

twice, done in Iron Man, an ultramarathon, a competitive jiu-jitsu athlete recently got my black

bell last year. I lift three to four days a week, nine years in Muay Thai, and the list goes

on. I know I'm mentally tough, but these long days turn into long months and just don't end.

As a friend of ours see their, as, sorry, as friends of ours see their kids getting older and life becoming easier, they are able to go on vacation,

go to dinner, golf, go to concerts, etc. We don't have great help with our oldest. One of us

needs to be home near full time, so we haven't had a vacation in 10 years. Very few dinners out,

and I try to tell myself I'm fine. I'm built for this. What would what would break others is a

...