Sarah Stone Weber, July 2017 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.

Sarah Stone Weber is a woman giving Adultitis a run for its money. She spreads joy everywhere she goes, and has a knack for taking ordinary circumstances and injecting them with fun and playfulness.

You’d never know this, but she has been dealt some significant health challenges and overcomes them with her Adultitis Fighting perspective. Part of this may be credited to her sidekick, Baboo. He is an adorable stuffed monkey, but shhh…don’t tell him he’s stuffed, he doesn’t know it! He has a Facebook page (with 69 friends), in which he shares pictures of their travel shenanigans, such as adventures like catching fish (bigger than himself), playing darts, and eating ice cream.

As you’ll read below, Sarah is an expert at inviting people into a state of play. Her joy is highly contagious and it’s a gift to many!

In recognition of their efforts, Adultitis Fighters of the Month receive a special mini-canvas hand-painted by Jason, along with a certificate of honor, a sweet patch, and other Adultitis-Fighting tools. We asked Sarah some questions about how she fights the Big A and what advice she has for others…

What are some of your favorite ways to fight Adultitis?

Do things a different way! For example, we started a tradition that the weekend before Christmas we would have meatloaf, but not just any meatloaf. The meatloaf is shaped like a Christmas tree and decorated with shapes cut from red, orange and yellow pepper and strips of onion as garland.

Embrace the situations! Look at all things, good or bad, as an adventure. This is not always easy. I add the odd things that happen to me to my bucket list so I can cross it off. I have ended up with a very strange bucket list.

I like coming up with ideas that create memories for others, too. At our wedding 10 years ago, Bill and I made sure it was very casual. We sent message in a bottle save the dates, our invitations were adventure guides that stated those that dressed up would be taunted and ridiculed, we chose bridesmaid and groomsmen with raffle tickets right before the ceremony and celebrated with just about everyone we knew because we made an invite list and never cut it down. I believe we planned the day with a clear understanding that there are no rules for a wedding day! It was not only our day but everyone’s day!

Do what makes you smile, not what is expected!

Who or what has been the greatest influence in your own fight against Adultitis?

Growing up, my mom and grandma had a lot of influence! Grandma would let me create. I made many paper baskets to be lowered up and down the open staircase by a string. (I was 45 years old when I made my last one, it was the year she passed away.) The first time I ever went toilet papering, my mom took us. (We TPed our grandson’s room for his birthday last year!). My greatest influences now are my husband and our 2 grandsons. Our adventures have been small and they have been epic! The memories created are more valuable than any material gift!

Stuff does not equal happiness – make memories!

What is something you loved doing as a child that you still do in some form today?

I love to pick on my younger sisters! Whether just teasing them about something, like Bob the Boogie Man that still lives under the basement stairs of our childhood home, or betting them they can’t do something. You know, like crawl under the coffee table. She should have known she would get stuck! Moving stuff around at their places, hiding fake mice to be found once I am gone, the list could go on and on.

Even though we pick on each other (all in fun), we are close and the laughs that we have are the greatest thing that they could ever give me!

There are no requirements that come with aging!

What is your strategy for dealing with people who are obviously infected with Adultitis?

In a short time, I can sense if it is a permanent state. If it isn’t, I will try to see what I can do to stop the spread of the infection. Fun meter pins, “you rock” coins, small cards with fun or inspirational messages, etc. These are the medicines that I use. If the infection of Adultitis has spread too far and has become a permanent state, I walk away and hope that one day they will see the disease for what it is and experience what is like to be cured.

Protect that you have never suffered or have been cured!

What advice do you have for someone who is feeling overwhelmed by Adultitis?

This question is hard. At times, I become overwhelmed with what is happening day to day and my long list of injuries and surgeries. I dig my way out by making lists and creating plans. I remove the things that are weighing me down from my brain, to make room for what will bring me smiles. Also, a trip to an arcade has always worked for me!

Wear the red shoes! (I would be happy to share the red shoes story with anyone that would like it!)

Anything else you’d like to share?

There are some wise words from the song “I Lived” by One Republic.

I owned every second that this world could give. I saw so many places. The things that I did. Yeah, with every broken bone, I swear I lived.

Adventure is out there!

Congrats to Sarah Stone Weber, July 2017 Adultitis Fighter of the Month. Thank you for making the world more awesome!