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Your Life is a Cliffhanger. What Will Happen Next?

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When I walk a cemetery, I look for stories in the gravestones. Sometimes the markers are very large and ornate, and other times quite small and humble. I wonder how accurate they are in reflecting the greatness of the lives they represent. Sometimes there are bible verses, or a few descriptors, like “devoted husband, father, and friend.” Sometimes there are mentions of military service, and I imagine the horrors witnessed and the heroics performed. Sometimes the date span is much too short, a sad memorial to the life of a baby taken from our world too soon. But something about gravestones like this one are extra poignant. "Till death do us part." This is promise Lois and Albert made to one another a long time ago, on their wedding day. Albert’s story is finished, in this world, at least. Something about the dates being carved in stone make it so real, and permanent. But Lois, her life feels like it’s on pause. A cliffhanger. Like someone with a chisel is waiting in the …

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A Tale of Two Trees: Thoughts on Life, Death and Regret

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I was in a small country cemetery recently, thinking about autumn and life and the end of another baseball season, when I saw these trees. All of them marching toward the sleep of winter, the one on the right still filled with leaves, another with only a few left to give. I wondered, “Which one am I?” As of this writing, I am forty-two years old. No spring sapling, that’s for sure. I’m old enough and experienced enough to know that I could be either tree. I think about death a lot, mostly because it helps me think about my life, and how well I’m spending it. Anniversaries are piling up. Pictures from my early days of marriage looks less and less like the person that greets me in the mirror each morning. And my kids. They are growing up so fast. Too fast. Memories of their newborn days seem like borrowed photographs from someone else’s life. Life can be hard, but it is good. I’d give anything to slow it all down. I rack my brain for something I can do to help. How do I …

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How to Create a Successful and Adultitis-Free Fundraising Event

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We were thrilled to help Goodwill with a fundraising event they dubbed "Escape Adulthood Recess." Designed to be a break from the workday, we worked with the fabulous folks at Hayes Marketing Services and the Goodwill Northern Illinois team to create a successful networking luncheon that raised a lot of money and created a lot of positive buzz. We were so impressed by the work that Donna Hayes and her team did to create such a magical event. Kim decided to follow up with her to get more information on all that went into it, how she was able to pack the room, and to glean some tips that others could use to plan their own events. Here's the interview: Quick links... Learn more about Jason's speaking programs Hayes Marketing Group See how another group utilized Jason's art to make their event more memorable The careful attention to detail helped create a fun and approachable ambiance, and tied the theme together wonderfully. Here are some photos we managed …

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Two Kinds of Treadmills

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There are two kinds of treadmills. The visible kind is usually found in gyms (or perhaps the dark recesses of your home, gathering dust.) After turning it on, you put one foot ahead of the other and walk. And walk. And walk. You can literally walk for an entire day, and yet you’ll be in the exact same place as when you started. Seems like an enormous waste of time. Except that the more time you spend on the treadmill, the more calories you burn and the more weight you can lose. This treadmill comes with a reward. The invisible treadmill doesn’t. It focuses not on walking, but on possessions and accomplishments. It promises you that if you just had one more, you’d be happy. And so you begin to accumulate: A big promotion. A shiny new phone. A nicer car. A roomier home in a better neighborhood. A more exotic vacation. A more fashionable pair of shoes. A bigger stock portfolio. A more prestigious award. This type of treadmill, in contrast with the visible kind, promises …

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Joan McGrath, October 2018 Adultitis Fighter of the Month

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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. We've had the privilege of getting to know Joan McGrath through her participation in a number of Escape Adulthood Summits over the years. Joan’s kind heart and sweet smile are jut the tip of the iceberg of what’s in store when you connect with her. If you pay a compliment to her about her necklace, she might just give it to you right then and there. She has a childlike generosity (meaning it’s unmatched). In fact, she even brought a whole bunch of fun jewelry to a recent Summit and invited everyone to pick a favorite! She loves to give others' positive experiences, which is what led her to inventing the …

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Enjoy the Ride

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"Enjoy the Ride" by Jason Kotecki. 30 x 24. Oil on canvas. Original is SOLD. Prints and canvas reproductions available here. This painting was inspired by my family's trip to Mexico, the beautiful tradition of Dia de Muertos, and thoughts of love ones who have come before. Life can seem like such a slog sometimes. A constant struggle of trying to get ahead, putting out fires, overcoming one obstacle after another. It can feel like we’re in survival mode, and it takes everything we’ve got just to make it through the day. It’s easy to grow tired and become discouraged, maybe even bitter and a little angry. This is because we don’t have perspective. Our ancestors, who have already traversed this lifespan and have seen what’s beyond, have a different perspective than we do. They are now able to see the big picture. They went through the valleys, but their purpose was ultimately revealed. They have the full understanding that the journey is shorter than we realize. …

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