Archives for December 2016

- - - | written by Jason on 12/26/2016 | - - -

12 Tips from This Year’s Adultitis Fighters of the Month

This year, we decided to shine a light upon some of the most remarkable Adultitis Fighters we've encountered, holding them up as dazzling examples of what we should strive for in this epic battle against a formidable enemy. They don't possess any special superpowers, other than the rare ability to embrace and act on simple ways to have fun, spread joy, and not take themselves too seriously. We've culled some of the best Adultitis-Fighting tips from our twelve award winners from 2016. For some everyday wisdom that can help transform your life today while making Adultitis run for the hills, …

- - - | written by Jason on 12/18/2016 | - - -

Let’s Shine Together

This year has been a tough one for many people. It’s not hard to find reasons to despair. Every time you turn around, there's a news alert announcing another terrible event that has happened. And that's to say nothing of the jerky, divisive behavior that populates our social media timelines. I know I can't shield my kids from reality forever, but the conversations that arise when our lives are invaded by the world's darkness and violence are hard. I made this art as a reminder that there is also light, and it is stronger than the darkness. It’s easy to feel powerless and paralyzed in the …

- - - | written by Jason on 12/15/2016 | - - -

Talking About Tinkering on the Mere Mortals Unite Podcast

I recently had the privilege of appearing on the Mere Mortal Unite podcast, hosted by Julie Ann Sullivan, who is a tremendous Adultitis Fighter. The focus of the episode was to give you permission to tinker, and in fact remind you that you used to do it all the time — when you were kid. We talked about what tinkering is, why you should do it, and how you can use it to transform your life or get out of a place of "stuckness." I also shared the magical benefits of a Tinker Project and how you can start your own to achieve breakthrough levels of creativity and uncover hidden opportunities. I …

- - - | written by Jason on 12/14/2016 | - - -

Fr. Dave Timmerman, December 2016 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. Fr. Dave Timmerman is a Catholic priest, but not a very conventional one. Of course, he is a big fan of God and the Church, but he's not a big fan of living by rules that don't exist. We met him well over a decade ago, …

- - - | written by Jason on 12/11/2016 | - - -

Mom Gives Adult Children Unusual Christmas Gifts

I met a fifty-something-year-old guy after my presentation at a conference in Minnesota earlier this year. He told me, "My mom believed that her kids should always get a toy from her for Christmas, no matter how..." I expected him to finish the sentence with, “...no matter how poor we were.” But he surprised me instead with, “...no matter how old we are.” To this day, along with other gifts, she still gets each of her adult children a toy for Christmas. I wish she would have been there, for I would have liked to give her a hug. It takes a wise woman to know that no matter how old …

- - - | written by Jason on 12/6/2016 | - - -

Do You Have the Gift Buying Blues?

We've all been there. You might be there right now: trying to find a gift for the person who has everything, or the person for whom you want to do something really special, or the person you don't really know that well, or the person you really don't like but still have an obligation to get something for. If this strikes a chord, please keep reading, because your day is about to be MADE: • Step 1: Buy a gorgeous 2017 Celebrate Everything wall calendar. It's the one that features super fun art and 365 real holidays, like National Chocolate Chip Day, One Hit Wonder Day, and National Yo-Yo …