We’re not sure when it happened. We thought we were fine. And because we never thought it would happen to us, it was easy to miss the warning signs. But before long, it became clear: we were afflicted with Adultitis.
Adultitis is a silent epidemic that has been ignored for far too long. It’s a disease that slowly erodes our inborn childlike spirit, wreaking havoc on our world, our nation, and our families. It kills laughter, dreams, curiosity, faith, happiness, and hope. It stresses us out. It causes us to take ourselves too seriously. And in some extreme cases, it can cause smile amnesia. (Pretty serious stuff.)
Disgusted with the condition we found ourselves in, we wondered if it was possible to systematically turn the tide on Adultitis. We couldn’t afford to set up a research team to develop a vaccine. We didn’t have the stamina to attempt a triathalon to raise funds. And when it comes to those little ribbons, all of the colors have already been taken. But we do have a plan.
After much soul-searching and many long discussions late into the night, we developed what evolved into the Escape Plan, a unique program designed to help safely and effectively treat Adultitis. We wanted to create something that would be structured, yet personal and unique to each person who tries it. We wanted it to be a real-world solution, which is why it doesn’t advocate that you pay your bills with Monopoly money, take up a strict diet of chicken nuggets, or quit your job to mess around with Play-Doh all day. That’s childish. The Escape Plan is about becoming more childlike. It’s about re-programming our grown-up selves to see life through a different lens.
In 2006, The Escape Plan started as a very public experiment. We volunteered ourselves as the guinea pigs and readers voted on who was more creative and childlike with each challenge. Kim edged Jason in the voting, but we were happy to see that the Escape Plan produced an outcome of real and lasting change in both of our lives.
Adultitis leaves its victims in shackles, weighing them down with stress and anxiety while keeping them from the simple peace and joy they had as children. The Escape Plan is like a key, designed to unlock our minds and free our spirits.
It’s pretty simple, really: The Escape Plan is a 40-day (or week) journey with a series of challenges designed to get you thinking and acting in a more childlike way. We recommend that you record your experiences and personal observations as you go along. And we implore you to share your solutions and experiences for each challenge in the comment section of each blog post. Your input will make the experience that much richer for everyone else who follows you on this journey.
If you feel like you have symptoms of Adultitis and are ready to do something about it, just start with Challenge #1 and keep going until you’ve made it through all 40.
This project is quite challenging; all change is. But it’s also a TON of fun. We invite you to follow the Plan and see what happens.