Escape Adulthood

Archives for May 2019

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Set In Stone: Lessons from an Old Savannah Cemetery

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been obsessed with making a difference in the world. The bigger impact, the better.But the question I’ve come to wrestle with is, how does one measure the impact one’s made?Kim and I recently celebrated our 19th wedding anniversary in Savannah. It’s one of the most charming and unique cities in the United States. A highlight was walking through the Colonial Park Cemetery in the heart of the Historical District. Established in 1750, it's the oldest intact municipal cemetery in Savannah. I just love old crypts and gravestones. A number of them …

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Caryl Dellis, May 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. The first time we had the opportunity to meet Caryl Dellis in person, we were doubly blessed because we were able to meet her and her mom together. These two women are true “partners-in-crime!” Both donning bright …

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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 …

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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 …

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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 …

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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 …

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