Escape Adulthood

Live with Less Stress & More Fun

Archives for December 2014

No

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Every time I say no, I actually mean yes. (What, am I the two-headed monster from Sesame Street?) I know it's confusing, but hear me out. It looks like this... "No. I can't connect for a long-overdue playdate on Friday morning," actually means... "Yes. I will take the morning to clean since we have people coming over on Saturday. If I can clean during the day on Friday, then I won't have to stay up late on Friday night cleaning after the kids go to bed, and I'll be able to be well-rested for our visitors which will help me enjoy the time more. I'll also get quality time with Jason after the kids go to bed, which is rejuvenating and fills up my cup." "No. I will not add more work hours to my week, even though I feel like it would be helpful since my inbox is constantly overflowing," actually means... "Yes. I will make the commitment to put the kids first and be their primary caregiver each morning and two full days during the week, which allows me to find a healthy …

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You Have Two Jobs This Time of Year

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Wow, it has been an amazing year. It was my thirty-ninth year of life, and my daughter Virginia’s first. I signed a book deal with a major New York publisher and earned my CSP designation. This summer’s Escape Adulthood Summit was the best one yet. We launched Escape Lab. And I got to take my oldest daughter Lucy on a business trip to San Diego, which turned out to be more fun than business. I believe we have two important jobs this time of year. The first is to look back at the year that was and recall the good parts. It’s easy to remember the challenges, the heartaches, and the things that didn’t work out. Every year has plenty of those. Meanwhile, it's easy to forget the good stuff that happened, so it’s important to call those things to mind, in gratitude for the blessings that came our way, and to pat ourselves on the back for the little things we did to make our story better. You’re not ignoring the dark moments when you choose to remember and dwell on the bright …

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Saturday Morning Sprinkles: DIY Christmas Tree Edition

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• Check out these clever DIY Christmas tree ideas. Do not miss the King Kong one. • Kinda neat: One minute Christmas ornaments. • 12 Days of Christmas Gift Ideas for Families • Really love this video about Carson and his buddy Ernie, the UPS driver: Finally, some posts from around here you may have missed: • 4 Fun Ways to Fight Adultitis and Make Memories this Christmas • The Perfect Gift is Not for Sale …

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4 Fun Ways to Fight Adultitis and Make Memories this Christmas

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This time of year is tailor-made for creating some amazing scenes with loved ones. Unfortunately, it’s also the most common time to let busyness drive us into “doing-what-we’ve-always-done” mode. Hello, Rutville. Here are four fun but simple tips to make sure Adultitis gets nothing but coal in its stocking this year. Minivan Express It’s kind of like Pajama Run meets The Polar Express, and you don’t even need a minivan to play. First, print up some golden tickets (templates here) and hide them under your kids’ pillows. While the normal bedtime routine is underway, prep some popcorn and hot chocolate in coffee mugs (with lids). When the kids discover the golden tickets under their pillows, it’s time to grab some slippers and head for the family vehicle to get their ticket punched. Then, with a soundtrack of Christmas music playing in the background, go for a ride around town looking at neighborhood light displays. You could also plan on stopping by the mall to get pictures …

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One Year to Live

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If you only had a year to live, how would you spend it? It's a paradoxal cliche that we hear an awful lot, but don't spend nearly the same amount of time thoughtfully considering. I stumbled across a story shared by Chris Guillebeau about an artist named Robert Genn who developed pancreatic cancer and was told he had about a year to live. Here's what he decided to do: They considered how to spend the time they had left together. There were thoughts of trips to Hawaii or the Galapagos, but Genn wanted to end his life as he had lived it: in his studio, making art, with his family close by. James fashioned a reclining chair so his father could continue to paint, lying down, as his illness took a physical toll. “He made it is his mission to go as long and as far as he could with a paintbrush in his hand, and he was painting small canvases right up until the last few weeks,” James said. “There’s a thing in the culture that says, if you’re given a year to live, what would you do …

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