Everyday I am faced with opportunities to "get up." I’m sure I’m not the only one. Let me give you some examples. A simple five-minute task turns into a 30-minute task when the printer decides to be crabby. When you finally get to take that short power nap you’ve been looking forward to, you are interrupted by a neighbor playing loud music, which lasts for about as long as your nap. After a long week, you drive across town for a dinner out; only to find out that the place you had your heart set on is not accepting tables because they have a private party for the evening. …
Adultitis
Children of the Self-Absorbed
So what happens if someone doesn't want to return to childhood? Well, at least not when it comes to their own childhood. I'm always quick to point out that it's never too late to have a great childhood. That being said, one of the great tragedies in life is when someone's childhood is ruined, particularly by abuse or... really bad parenting. I'm not one for pointing fingers or blaming others -- that's childish -- but for those of you out there who need some tips on getting past a less than stellar upbringing, maybe this book by Nina Brown will help. I cracked up at the title: Children of the …
So Long, Crocodile Hunter
When I first saw Steve Irwin, The Crocodile Hunter, I thought, "Now this guy is one big kid!" His boyish passion and wide-eyed enthusiasm were irresistible. Whether he was sticking his head in a crocodile's mouth or picking up an irritated snake by the tail, I couldn't stop watching. Needless to say, Kim and I were saddened to hear about his death yesterday. …
How Bears Deal with Adultitis
So I got this photo from a friend of a friend of a friend who lives in Alaska (and saw Ferris pass out at 31 Flavors last night). They bought a play structure, set it all up, and awoke the next morning to find it already in use. Which proves the point that even bears are better at escaping adulthood than most people. (It also reminds me that football season is only about a week away -- Go Bears!) [tags]stress, Adultitis, Alaska, Ferris Bueller, bears[/tags] …
Does the Pope Have Adultitis?
I can't imagine a guy with the potential for more day-to-day stress, pressure, and overall responsibility than the pope. (With the possible exception of the President of the United States and the committee who decides what colors will be fashionable this season.) Yet somehow, Pope Benedict XVI (that's the sixteenth for all you non Super Bowl fans) manages to stay relatively Adultitis-free. Just last week, the pope gave a speech advising everybody to, um, chill out. Too much work and busyness is no good for the soul, he said. And it can make you stupid, too. I am paraphrasing a bit, but …
Forever Moments
How many "forever moments" have you had recently? The term was used in a recent article by syndicated columnist Debra-Lynn B. Hook. She explained one such moment that occurred while she and her son were on a bike ride: Instead of racing along the trail in a hurry, always rushing to see what's around the bend, we decided to open our senses and our hearts to each curve along the path. "I see shadows on the trail from the sun." "I hear the sound of a lawn mower." …
In Search For Peace
She’s 39 and a mom of three. Life is busy. Work is challenging. The kids are always on the go. Her husband helps out with household family stuff as much as he can, about as much as she can these days. At the end of the day she is exhausted. She looks forward to the kids going to bed so she can have some peace. Peace doesn’t come easily, though. When she finally sits down on the couch her mind is filled with a list of “to do’s” and demands. She wants to relax. She deserves to relax. It starts with a glass of wine a few nights a week. It’s a small little joy. She soon finds herself drinking a …
This Sums Up Everything
I got this from one of those e-mail forwards (have you heard of them?)... "Inside every older person is a younger person wondering what happened." Yep. I think this should be the subtitle to this blog. (Thanks to Barb Hinkins!) …
Dictators Get Stressed Too
Fidel Castro says his problems were brought on by stress. I for one have never served in the role of dictator for any small island nations, but I can see how that job -- not to mention maintaining one's position on the list of world's top ten biggest jerks -- might be a bit taxing. I want to help, I really do. I thought about sending him a copy of Escape Adulthood, but ultimately decided it probably wouldn't do much good. Not that the book doesn't have some good things going for it. On the contrary, allow me to shamelessly and oh-so-proudly share a recent review I got the other day from a …
Green Eggs and Crack Cocaine
One of the most interesting facts that I heard while in Orlando at the National Speakers Association convention was that the majority of millionaires in the United States are first generation immigrants. Then, this past weekend, I got into a discussion about how bad the drug problem is in the area where I grew up. I went to high school in a pretty small, sheltered town where alcohol was aplenty and pot wasn't hard to find. These days, heroin, cocaine, and crystal meth are regular acquaintances of a growing number of average, everyday high school students. It's a trend that I know is not …