In the newly released Bee Movie (produced by, written by, and starring Jerry Seinfeld), the main character, Barry B. Benson, is applauded for having the perfect report card -- all B's. Kim and I had a chance to see this film over the weekend, and I have to give it all A's. What made it most refreshing was the influence of Seinfeld. The king of observational comedy, Jerry's fingerprints were all over the movie. I expected a lot of bad puns (there were only a few) but time and time again, I was delighted by all of the witty, smart, and thoughtful observations about what life might look like …
Archives for November 2007
Martha or Mary Thanksgiving?
It's one of the shortest stories in the Bible, but I think it's so relevant to our modern day- the story of Martha and Mary. I reread it this morning (Luke 10:38- 42) and couldn't help but think about all of the busy people this week, preparing for Thursday's feast. Let's be honest, it's a lot of work... the bird, the side dishes, desserts, and don't forget the cleaning (before and after). Some people love it, and then others are quite resentful. A lot depends on the amount of support received with the busywork tasks that need to be done. You may remember in the story Jesus and his …
10 Ways to Have a Childlike Thanksgiving
In case you've been wondering, yes Adultitis is contagious, but so is being playful and young at heart! Which would you rather spread? There will always be the "Scrooges" of the world who turn their noses up at you, but there is hope... just look at the Grinch, an Adultitis survivor. So, I challenge you to be a real live Adultitis Antidote by modeling a childlike (not childish) existence this Thanksgiving. Be an example of someone living life with less stress and more fun. Does this mean you should channel the 6th grade class clown at the dinner table? Not so much. Crossing the line into …
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Escape Adulthood with Your Camera
Looking for a fun way to beat the snot out of Adultitis this weekend? Grab your camera and check out some ideas from Photojojo, the insanely great newsletter on photography. They believe there are tons of fun things you can do with photos, and they make it their mission to share them with world. I love their childlike attitude and witty copy. Oh yeah, and they have some pretty sweet ideas anyone can do. Here are a few: See Life From a Dog’s Point-of-View with the Photojojo Doggie-Cam! Take Photos From Inside Your Mouth … with the Smiley-Cam! How to Turn Friends into Ghosts with a …
Hello, It’s Childlike Faith Calling
Man, we never give kids enough credit. They are little storehouses of wisdom that often get overlooked by grown-ups who know it all. This recording of a short phone call made by a 12-year-old boy from Nebraska to Houston radio station KSBJ FM 89.3 is as remarkable as it is heartwarming. It might just make your day. (Hat tip to Kim & Jason Insider Lori Martori for passing it along) …
State of Mind
"While being young is an accident of time, youth is a permanent state of mind." This from a man who was still designing houses when he died at age 91, Frank Lloyd Wright. What's your state of mind? [tags] young at heart, Frank Lloyd Wright, childlike spirit[/tags] …
Cheesy Comfort
Burr. It's getting chilly here in Madison these days. I've been wearing my hat (which I DO love) on my morning walks. Even though it bums me to think about bundling up until at least March, I am delighting in the little things that come along with the cooler weather... like comfort foods! I wrote an article for our last magazine (which you can download here) for the Yum section about comfort foods and how they are connected with our childhood memories, specifically highlighting one of my all time favorites- mac 'n cheese. Eliz Greene contributed a fantastic recipe for "Fancy Mac and Cheese" …
Pass the Peace, Please
(Say that five times fast!) We have so many choices on our "menu of life." The freedom we have is such a gift and it's time to order up the best that life has to offer. To be able to do that we have to ask ourselves a very important question... What steals your peace? I caught a minute of author and speaker Joyce Meyer on TV the other day asking that question. She suggested that as soon as you figure out the answer, you can work to proactively avoid those things. …
Whatever You Do, Don’t Cause a Scene
We as a human race tend to take ourselves WAY too seriously. Especially the grown-up faction. The child who would be quite content to wear pajamas and a cape with cowboy boots to church next Sunday does not seem to have "Make sure people don't laugh at me" very high on his list of priorities. But for adults, lots of time and effort is spent doing everything possible to not appear foolish or silly. God forbid someone might laugh at us. As if that would be the worst thing ever. …
Beat the Clutter
Do you have any clutter in your life? If yes, then you are also probably living with a case of Adultitis. Whether it's in your house, cubical, or head, clutter is causing you stress and preventing you from moving forward. Jack Canfield, co-creator of the Chicken Soup for the Soul books talks about this, referring to the "Cycle of Completion." He says, When you don’t complete tasks, you can’t be fully prepared to move into the present, let alone your new future. When your brain is keeping track of all the unfinished business you still have at hand, you simply can’t be effective in embracing …