"Hippoposterous" by Jason Kotecki. 20" x 20". Oil on canvas. Original is SOLD. Prints available here. This is a tiny hippo in a bowl of Froot Loops. Or is it a normal-sized hippo in a giant bowl of Froot Loops? I don’t remember. Either way, it’s preposterous. Most serious people don’t have time for the preposterous. They have much more important things to concern themselves with. Of course, there’s a good chance that these people are also riddled with Adultitis, make terrible leaders, and will never change the world. Consider the smartphone. It is a device on which you can look up any fact in the world or talk to your friend on the other side of the planet via video. And you can use it to order a hundred melon ballers that will arrive at your door by tomorrow. Just think of all the elements at play that make this thing work: microchips. The internet. Wi-Fi. Facial recognition. Speech recognition. Rechargeable battery. Unbreakable glass. (Oh, wait…) Now, imagine …
Tami Schroeder, January 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. If you’re looking for a “Professional Adultitis Fighter,” look no further. You’ve found her – Tami Schroeder. Tami makes people happy for a living...talk about Adultitis-fighting! Yes, a summer job sculpting balloons turned into enrolling in the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Clown College, and then eventually touring the country with this world-famous circus. When the circus adventure came to an end, she decided to start her own award-winning family entertainment business called Funny Faces Children’s Entertainment, where she specializes in delighting people of all ages, giving them fun and creative ways …
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How to Use Your Imagination to Beat Fear
"The Greatest Showman" by Jason Kotecki. 16" x 20". Oil on canvas. Original is SOLD. Prints available here. The absence of fear is not bravery. The absence of fear is a terrible life. If you stay exactly where you are, and never try anything new, you may be able to avoid fear. Maybe. If you want your life to matter, however, fear comes with the territory. You’re going to have to figure out how to tame it. The good news is that our fear is never as ferocious as we make it out to be. Most adults don’t consider themselves to have a robust imagination; that's the realm of children and fairy tales. However, there is one aspect where most adults actually have an over-active imagination, and that’s when it comes to our fears. It doesn’t require any effort at all to picture our portfolio going belly up, our project crashing and burning, or ending up penniless, homeless, and living in a van down by the river while eating Spam out of a can. We can picture all of these things …
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Willing to Relocate
"Willing to Relocate" by Jason Kotecki. 24" x 24". Oil on canvas. Original is SOLD. Prints available here. When Kim and I decided to move to Madison after we got married, neither of us had jobs, or job prospects for that matter. I’m sure some people thought we were crazy. Kim and I didn’t have to leave home. It was fine and it offered opportunity. But we wanted an adventure to call our own, and suspected that the life we wanted to live would require a change of scenery. And so we were willing to relocate. We had to leave behind that which was familiar in order to grow into who we were meant to become. We picked Madison, but in our case, the need to move away from our comfort zone was more important than the actual location itself. Sometimes we have to be willing to relocate in order to make our dreams come true. Of course, that might mean moving across town, or across the country. But it might mean moving into a different group of friends. It might mean moving …
Leap
"Leap" by Jason Kotecki. 20" x 16". Oil on canvas. Original is SOLD. Prints available here. Why is it that so many of the people who have found success in America are first-generation immigrants? One big reason is that many of them came from a place that is not so great. They saw America as the Land of Opportunity and they pursued it with a definitive focus and relentless persistence. They were willing to leap from the known to the unknown. A big reason people don’t chase their dream is because where they are now isn’t half bad. They give up the dream and settle for the dreamsicle. A dreamsicle is sweet and alluring and very tempting. It’s the option most people go for, with its safety, comfortability and surface-level perks. Because of that, you wonder if you’re crazy to even consider abandoning it. The dreamsicle is the lifestyle that ensures you need to keep your current job for as long as possible. It’s the boyfriend who checks all the boxes except for the one …
Dan Paulsrud, December 2018 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. If Dan Paulsrud were a Care Bear, he would be a wonderful mashup of Funshine, Tenderheart and Harmony Bear. He has a playful, kind heart and it shines through the minute you meet him and see his generous smile. His childlike approach to adulthood is a gift to those around him and undoubtedly impactful and contagious. His personal journey of changing his career 15 years in is a courageous example of wisdom that many do not learn until much later in life. He is a leader in this movement and many are inspired by his intentional and harmonious approach to fun and family. In recognition of their efforts, Adultitis …
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Thoughts On Missing Loved Ones During the Holidays
In my book Penguins Can’t Fly, I wrote about the story of a young man I knew who had leukemia, and how his family and friends moved up Christmas a few months so he’d be able to celebrate his favorite holiday one more time. Well, unbeknownst to me, one of my speaking colleagues was good friends with Kevin’s mom. One day, shortly after the book came out, my colleague read her the passage in my book. Through the tears, Kevin’s mother expressed her great joy in finally have something new to share about her son. “My friends are always telling me new things about their kids," she said. "How they graduated with honors, got married, had their first child. I never had anything new to share. Now I do.” The other thing this mother told my friend was how sad she was that no one ever brought up Kevin in conversation. Oh, she knew it was because they were being sensitive and didn’t want to upset her. “What they don’t realize,” she explained, “Is that I want to talk about my son. I want to …
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14 Fantastic Christmas Gift Exchange Ideas
One of the best parts of Christmas is opening up an unexpectedly awesome gift from a thoughtful giver. Even better is watching someone else open up the perfect gift you found for them. Unfortunately, the gift-giving part of the holidays often contributes a big part of the stress most people feel during the season. It’s not easy trying to find something nice for everyone on the list while fighting the bustling, crazy crowds and keeping the budget from ballooning like Santa on a post-Christmas cookie eating binge. A lot of families and work colleague save money by doing gift exchanges in which every person buys a gift for just one person, rather than everyone in the whole family. Names are drawn, a budget is set, and gifts are purchased. It’s budget-friendly, but can become a bit stale. Not anymore! Without further ado, here are some creative ideas for adding a fun twist to the standard gift exchange... Alphabet Gift Exchange. Draw names as usual, then have everyone …
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The World-Changing Power of a Little Whimsy
"A Little Whimsy" by Jason Kotecki. 40" x 40". Oil on canvas. Original is SOLD. Prints …
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Wondernite 2018 Recap
Wondernite is an exclusive art collecting event where I premiere never-before-seen originals and limited edition artwork. This year, guests got all gussied up and joined us at the beautiful Park Hotel, Madison’s only Capitol Square hotel, for an unforgettable evening. And it sure was. Here are a few notes (and a bunch of photos!) from the second annual Wondernite... "Thank you! I took a chance on a night not knowing what to expect and attended solo. I really had a blast and would absolutely attend more events! Thanks so much ❤️❤️" –Carrie Ouradnik My brother Doug served as emcee for the night, and delighted people with his jokes and semi-true stories. After dinner, as I revealed my new pieces, I told the stories behind the work. All of the originals were made available by silent auction, although some people lamented the loss of the live auction and the witty banter of Doug. (We already have plans to remedy …