Dear friend, Do you ever suffer from that dreaded emotion of feeling alive? Are you always complaining about that spring in your step, the annoying perception of joy in your heart, or the gnawing sense that you’ve found your purpose in life? If you ask me, no one should have to live that way, and it’s my mission in life to prevent these sorts of unfortunate conditions. Naturally, there are a host of things that will try and trip you up. Without even realizing it, you can find yourself feeling alive at no fault of your own. Here is a list -- by no means is it exhaustive -- of certain things you’ll want to steer clear of: smiling babies, as well as all puppies, bunnies and kittens, circuses, water parks, dolphin shows and magic shows, oversized stuffed animals, silly string, bean bag chairs, helium-filled balloons, and of course, Pop Rocks. Besides all that, here some very effective techniques for turning your situation around: …
Adultitis
Las Vegas: A Reflection of the Adultitis Within Us
Las Vegas is stunning in its grandiosity, clever in its marketing, and is awash in über talented people and beautiful design. Las Vegas is also a loud, bold, and damning example of how far we’ve come from the childlike hallmark of delighting in the little things. …
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Denver Neighborhood Bans Children’s Sidewalk Drawings
Apparently, chalk drawings of hearts and flowers is a "distracting and offensive blight" on a Denver community. The homeowner's association in three-year-old Emerson Cohen's neighborhood has temporarily banned children from drawing on sidewalks, saying "anything that offends, disturbs or interferes with the peaceful enjoyment is not allowed on shared spaces." Yeah, because children's chalk drawings wreak all kinds of havoc on my peaceful enjoyment of pretty much anything. …
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The Most Awesome Sound in the World
One of the greatest things ever is hearing my kids laugh. Whether it’s a silly little giggle or unbridled belly laughter, there’s no better sound in the world. It recently occurred to me that God probably feels the same way about his children. …
G’Day Mate: Adventures in Expanding Your Comfort Zone
I often wonder why I care so much about what other people think. I shouldn’t, and I like to think I don’t, but I do. Not always, but more often than I should. The irony is that the worst-case scenario is always the most terrifying when it stays in our head. If we were to actually speak our fears out loud -- to shine light upon them -- we would realize how ridiculous it is that we allow them to enslave us. When Kim and I wrote The Escape Plan, we identified this unfortunate but all-too-common trait that keeps us tied down and hastens the spread of Adultitis. And so we wanted to include a challenge to address it. We called it, “G’Day Mate,” and it was simple: Talk in a phony voice or accent to a complete stranger. Simple, but not easy. …
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Are You Hanging Out with the Wrong Crowd?
Back when you were a kid, your mom warned you about those people. They were the ones up to no good, always involved in various nefarious activities. They were the burnouts, the troublemakers, the future inmates. We may no longer be in high school any more, but Mom's warning still holds water. If you want to avoid Adultitis, you need to stay away from the wrong crowd at all costs. You may have trouble recognizing the wrong crowd these days, because they are not easily recognized by their missing homework, black death metal t-shirts, and ever-present fog of cigarette smoke. …
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This Little Piggy Shared His Light
This picture was sent from Kim & Jason Nation member Jill Bodwin. She shared, …
14 Fun Easter Egg Decorating Ideas for the Young at Heart
You might think that decorating Easter eggs is by default an Adultitis-free activity. Not necessarily. If the decorating of eggs is something that's become more of a chore, or if you're doing it a certain way because you've always done it that way...well, that makes Adultitis happier than a hippie in a hemp store. Perhaps this is the year to mix things up. Here are some fun ideas... …
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Adultitis-Fighting Tool: The Mom Binder
Thirty-seven weeks and counting. Baby "Poom" (as Lucy has fondly named her little sibling) should be arriving soon, and I would be lying if I said I wasn't anticipating like crazy. Will it be a boy? A girl? Who will he/she look like? How will Lucy adjust? So many things to daydream about... and, oh yeah, I'm ready to be a mobile person again -- instead of a Weeble. Luckily, Lucy is low to the ground and helps by picking things up for me. I just wish she could tie my shoes! …
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Keeping Your Facebook Adultitis-Free
If you're one of the 750 million Facebook users, you need to be aware that it may be infecting you with Adultitis, without your full written consent. Be sure to take these simple steps towards avoiding Adultitis on Facebook. Another way to keep Adultitis at bay on Facebook is by liking US! …