Maintain Perspective

- - - | written by Kim on 3/31/2008 | - - -

Tip of the Week: This Little Light of Mine

This week’s Escape Plan challenge (aka our Tip of the Week) is #22: This Little Light of Mine: Do something to make the world a better place. When it comes to helping make the world a better place, there are lots of options here in Madison. Supposedly Wisconsin's capital has more nonprofit organizations per capita than any other city in the nation. That's pretty darn cool. "The greatest exercise for the human heart is to reach down and lift someone up." I heard this quote in a powerful interview on CNN recently highlighting Jon Huntsman, a self-made billionaire who is spending his …

- - - | written by Jason on 3/28/2008 | - - -

The Last Lecture

"Never underestimate the power of having fun." This said from a man with three little kids who is dying of pancreatic cancer and has months to live. If you haven't already seen this lecture, given by professor Randy Pausch, do yourself -- and your loved ones -- a favor by taking some time to watch it right now. It is as inspiring as it is heart-wrenching. Don't wait 'till it's too late to really start living life. …

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- - - | written by Kim on 3/26/2008 | - - -

27 Ways to Stomp Out Spring Stress

Every season brings its own natural stressors. Spring is no different. The busyness of spring sports, spring cleaning, and don't forget about taxes. The weather gets nicer by the day, and yet the to-do list leaves little room for enjoying it. David Schkade, PhD, a psychologist and professor of management at the University of California San Diego shared in a recent article for "O" The Oprah Magazine that "if you transfer even an hour of your day from an activity you hate (commuting, scrubbing the bathroom) to one you like (reading, spending time with friends), you should see a significant …

- - - | written by Jason on 3/25/2008 | - - -

What’s So Great About America

Is it just me, or is the election season getting longer and longer here in America? (I think I already saw a yard sign for someone running for President in 2012.) One thing that disgusts me is how each election season, every candidate makes a case of how terrible things are in this country. Everything is in the toilet: our economy, our schools, our foreign policy, our health care system, you name it. Add it all up, and we apparently live in the worst country on the face of the earth. (Kind of makes you wonder why we have such a problem with illegal immigration -- it seems to me that people …

- - - | written by Jason on 3/5/2008 | - - -

Star Wars According to a 3-Year-Old

Grown-ups have a way of complicating things. We are addicted to subtlety. Nuance. Shades of grey. One of the things I admire most about children is their ability to cut to the chase. They're honest. They tell it like it is. And they don't mess around with unimportant details. This video gives the rundown of Star Wars Episode IV from the perspective of a 3-year-old. One important life lesson: don't be like the shiny guy. The shiny guy always worries. Even 3-year-olds know that worrying is a stupid waste of time. Proof yet again that kids are experts at spotting Adultitis. …

- - - | written by Kim on 2/25/2008 | - - -

Tip of the Week: Spin Cycle

This week’s Escape Plan challenge (aka our Tip of the Week) is #27: Spin Cycle. Take a routine you do everyday and put a childlike spin on it. Routines are great for a lot of reasons (says the retired Kindergarten teacher), but they can easily shift into ruts. "The only difference between a rut and a grave is their dimensions." -Ellen Glasgow The idea I am going to share is something we've passed along at our speaking programs. Most mornings within the first twenty minutes of your routine you can tell what kind of mood you're in, hence determining what kind of day you're ultimately going …

- - - | written by Kim on 2/4/2008 | - - -

Tip of the Week: Funjection Device

This week’s Escape Plan challenge (aka our Tip of the Week), is #30: Funjection Device. Figure out a way to bring some fun into a dreaded task today. “My second favorite household chore is ironing. My first one being — hitting my head on the top bunk bed until I faint.” -Erma Bombeck Amen, Erma. Thank goodness for wrinkle release spray! My least favorite chore (besides grocery shopping) is laundry. I shudder to even think about it and inevitably end up procrastinating until I have one lonely pair of unmentionables left. This challenge will help you get beyond the dread by adding a little …

- - - | written by Kim on 1/31/2008 | - - -

Fill up Your Bucket List

Tomorrow is the first day of February, which tends to be a hard month for folks here in the northern midwest . The Christmas lights are down, spring is still out of reach, and it's still dark and cold by 5PM everyday. Enough said. Ready for a jump start? Thanks to our dear friend Lindsey over at the Enjoy the Journey blog, Jason and I were inspired to take her recommendation and go see The Bucket List last Sunday. With the two lead roles being Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman, we knew we were in for a treat. HOLY COW. I'm with Lindsey, this was one of the very best movies I've …

- - - | written by Kim on 1/28/2008 | - - -

Tip of the Week: Listen Up

Our Insider subscribers know that this week's Escape Plan challenge (aka our Tip of the Week), is #31: Listen Up. Find a place to sit quietly for ten minutes. Listen for at least one sound that you would not have normally noticed. When's the last time you sat quietly for ten whole minutes? If you're like me, you are feeling a bit surprised that the first month of '08 is coming to a close. Where did the time go? As Ferris Bueller reminded us, "Life moves pretty fast. If we don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it." …

- - - | written by Kim on 1/24/2008 | - - -

Simple Acts of Love

Over Christmas my in-laws had a house full, everyone was home. It was so nice being together. My father-in-law shared afterward that one of his favorite moments was on one of the mornings after his shower. He got dressed, came out of the bathroom and found his five-year-old granddaughter, our niece and god daughter, standing proudly next to his bed. She had decided to surprise him by making his bed. And what a surprise it was! We later found out from her mom that she likes to do this sort of thing for her in the mornings, too. It's not uncommon for my sister-in-law to come out of the …

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