Escape Adulthood

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Finding Magic When Life Doesn’t Go As Planned

Life rarely coooperates in delivering the perfection we plan for. The good news is that it doesn’t have to ruin the story. Last week, my family made our annual family pilgrimage to Wrigley Field. Even though it was a bit chilly, the sky was clear and the game was fun. Only problem was the home team lost to the rival Brewers. Afterwards, we hit the gift shop and I let the kids pick out brand new Cubs hats. They each chose one that fit their personality perfectly (my youngest, who goes by "Rose," found one with little flowers on it!), and we got to take a photo wearing them next to the 2016 World Series trophy.  My son’s old hat has quite a history. Kim purchased it a few years before we were even married. She had written the name of our favorite boy’s name at the time (Andy) on the inside label. Fast forward to now, and that hat is incredibly faded, rimmed with sweat stains, and ridiculously small for my son’s seven-year-old noggin. The original inside label is …

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My TED Talk About Rules That Don’t Exist

I recently had a chance to give a TEDx talk in McHenry, Illinois, which is just outside Chicago. I probably prepared more for this speech than any other I've given, and it was one of the shortest I've ever delivered. I'm excited to finally be able to share the video here. What was the talk about? Here's the description: Face it, adulting is hard. There are deadlines to meet, bills to pay, and rules aplenty we have to follow. Most of these rules keep order in what would otherwise be a chaotic world. But are all “rules” equally important? Maybe there are some rules we’d be better off not following.  In his talk, Jason Kotecki, will challenge us to escape adulthood and break the rules we only think we have to follow. …

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Managing by Magic 8 Ball

The leader of an organization was preparing for a long overdue two-week vacation. He had spent a month preparing for his absence by setting up systems and training his second-in-command to step up while he was gone. But still, his protégé was nervous.  She proposed several hypothetical scenarios, wondering how she should respond. The leader calmly explained the processes he set up to handle each situation. “Don’t worry, you’ve got this,” he reassured her. “But, if you find yourself in a spot where you don’t know what to do, let me show you something I rely on in situations like that.” He led her into his office, and grabbed a Magic 8-Ball from his desk. “If you’re stuck, just state your issue in the form of a yes or no question, shake this, and do whatever it says.” She looked at him with a puzzled expression on her face. "By the way," he said, "If it says to ask again later, just give it a little time before trying again.” The young employee wondered aloud, “But …

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Enlist Your Enemy to Help You Succeed

When I am almost done with a painting, I give it a time out. I let it hang out on the side of my studio while I begin work on a new one. Every time I walk by it, I sneak a peek at it, trying to pretend as if I’ve never seen it before.  I’m not trying to make it jealous; I'm trying to look at it with new eyes. The goal is to figure out if it really is finished. I’m always doubtful that it is, but sometimes I struggle to find anything to fix. A recent painting I’d been working on had a couple of areas that I knew would be tough going into it, particularly the water in the swimming pool, which I’d never painted before. In the end, I was happy with how the challenge areas turned out, and when I looked at the painting, it was with a sense of pride at my accomplishment. But I couldn’t shake the sense that the painting wasn’t finished. Then I came across a quote by the novelist Samuel Butler, who said, "Think of and look at your work as though it were done by your enemy. …

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Life is Like a Box of Easter Eggs

My kids discovered a YouTube video that highlighted dozens of unique ways to decorate Easter eggs. They were excited to try out some of the new techniques they learned, many of which were new to me as well. There’s no one way to decorate an Easter egg. It reminded me that there’s also no one way to create an amazing life.  There are lots of different ways to earn money.There are lots of different ways to spend it.There are lots of different ways to allocate your time.And lots of options of where and who to spend that time with. Of course, you can do things by the book. You know, the “normal” way. With a cup of water, a few tablespoons of vinegar, and some drops of food coloring, you’ll get a “successful” life, I mean Easter egg.  Creating something that resembles a Fabergé egg requires an altogether different approach. Mind you, I’m not suggesting that it’s a better one. Task me with the job of crafting some sort of intricate pattern, and there’s a good chance our …

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Neil Mathweg, April 2019 Adultitis Fighter of the Month

An Adultitis Fighter is someone who rallies against rules that don't exist and engages in ruthless, senseless acts of silliness that undermine Adultitis and its unadventurous version of adulthood. Once a month, we shine a light upon the most remarkable among us, holding them up as a dazzling example of what we should strive for in this epic battle against a formidable enemy. Neil Mathweg may be 40, but you might guess he’s been drinking from the magical fountain of youth for years. Neil has managed to stay childlike and joyful, generously sharing his vibrant personality and creativity with everyone he meets. He’s a true inspiration and an everyday tinkerer. Luckily for those he encounters along the way, he is generous with sharing this childlike energy. His optimism is contagious and welcoming. He’s a true Adultitis Fighter, bringing Adultitis to its knees with every encounter. Neil surrounds himself with positive people and enters the world with an attitude that inspires even …

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