Escape Adulthood

Live with Less Stress & More Fun

The Blog

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Heather Haas, December 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. Heather Haas' example of fighting Adultitis is beautiful. She walks her talk. She lives a bright, unapologetically bold life and it's refreshing and inspiring (and maybe sometimes even a bit challenging - in a good way) for all of those who come near enough to witness her life of awesomeness. It’s all about her perspective and intention, as you’ll read below. One thing that stands out about Heather is that she takes the necessary time needed to fill her cup and in turn has a generous amount of love and kindness to pour out into those around her. This delicate balance is found with mindfulness, love, a …

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Hope in the Desert

"Hope in the Desert." 16x20 inches. Oil on canvas.Original and prints available. When Kim and I started this adventure, we were optimistic. Very. When we decided to abandon my career as a freelance illustrator and designer, we felt very strongly that my comic strip Kim & Jason was going to hit the big time. We planned to live on Kim’s kindergarten teaching salary, which we knew would require sacrifice, but we were fairly certain that within a year, Kim & Jason would take the world by storm and we’d be exchanging phone calls with Oprah and her people. We had no idea it would take five years before we’d be able to earn a living with our business. And by earning a living, I mean simply replacing the Kim’s robust $23,000 teaching salary.  It didn’t take long for the optimism that launched our big dream to fade. For much of those five years, it felt like we were living in the desert. Any encouraging email from a reader, or an order on our store that …

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Wondernite 2019 Recap

The third annual Wondernite was another magical affair filled with smiles, wows, and even a few tears. The exclusive art collecting event is where I premiere never-before-seen originals and limited edition artwork, but more than anything, the team and I strive to create an inspiring and entertaining evening of wonder. I wanted to share a few thoughts (and a lot of photos!) from the evening. Enjoy! Guests came from all over to the top of the Park Hotel, with stunning views of the majestic State Capitol building, to enjoy a fancy night out and browse my newest creations. Along with the original art, we also have a ton of other fun goodies on hand, including our newest product releases, which make perfect gifts that accommodate any sized-budget. Kim and I were excited to have our children join us for the first time this year. We weren't sure how they'd handle the late night and the fancy dinner, …

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Sticky Concepts that Stifle Stress and Burnout

I believe the mark of an effective presenter is the level of impact that lingers long after the speech is over. Although I love creating a funny, inspiring and insightful experience, I am most delighted to hear the ways people and organizations keep the message alive years after my presentation.  One of the ways I do this is by providing sticky concepts and unique terminology that anchor the principles I share in people’s minds. Perhaps the clearest example of this is my introduction of Adultitis, which represents a bully that is eager to facilitate burnout, sow discord, and stifle innovation. Establishing a common enemy allows a team to rally together in a fun and effective way, rather than pointing fingers of blame at one another. I also encourage people to accomplish big things by being mindful of celebrating the little wins along the way. Recently, an organization I spoke to several years ago reached out to share some ways they continue to keep Adultitis at bay by …

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Don’t Stop Believin’

"Don't Stop Believin'" by Jason Kotecki. Oil on canvas.Original SOLD. Prints available here. My family went to Mexico to see whales.  That’s not the only reason we went to Cabo, but then again, the whales weren’t in Mexico because they were hoping to be seen. The tour company guaranteed we'd see them or our next ride was free, but we were told that we had a one in five shot of actually seeing one breach. It was recommended that we improve our odds by booking several excursions. Our itinerary and budget forced us to take our chances.  As we skipped across the waves on our small vessel, my little family prayed to St. Francis, the patron saint of animals, and we invoked St. Anthony with the words, “Tony, Tony, look around, there is something to be found.” I had faith that our little excursion was in the right twentieth percentile. Maybe our prayers were answered, maybe it just turned out to be our lucky day, but we saw this guy (or gal, I forgot to check) do this several …

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Time For S’Mores

"Time for S'mores." Oil on canvas. Original is SOLD. Prints available here. The background of this painting comes from a photograph I took during a family trip to the Pacific Northwest. It captured a holy moment. You see, in our family, when the sun has taken its final bow for the day, and the moon is set to take the stage, it’s time for s’mores.  I suppose you could have s’mores during afternoon tea, and of course there’s no rule against having them for breakfast, but it just doesn’t seem right. You may disagree with me on the proper time for s’mores, one thing is certain: making s'mores demands that you make time for s’mores.  It’s not something you just throw together. You have to gather the chocolate, graham crackers, and marshmallows, which aren’t as conveniently handy as eggs and milk. You have to build a fire, which requires wood and kindling and matches and the patience required to nurse a spark into a full-blown fire, especially if the wind is conspiring …

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