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- - - | written by Jason on 8/4/2024 | - - -

Alligators & Adultitis: Why We Need More Laughter in Life

An alligator can live up to 100 years... which is why there's an increased chance they will see you later. One of the midwives who helped Kim on her journey into motherhood had experience working with the Navajo people. She told us about a custom of theirs in which the first person to make a newborn laugh is obligated to throw the family a huge party to celebrate the occasion. According to their tradition, it’s considered the moment in which the baby is fully present and “in the world.” I think that’s pretty cool. You often see people rejoicing over baby’s first words, first steps, …

- - - | written by Jason on 2/6/2022 | - - -

Increase Your Margin for Fun

Did you used to be fun?Next time you look in the mirror, I challenge you to ask the question, “Would I want to hang out with me?”I know a lot of people who label themselves as “un-fun,” wishing it weren’t so but resigned to a monotonous stream of grown-up responsibilities, obligations, and commitments.If that describes you, take heart. I refuse to believe that you’re the boring, stick-in-the-mud fuddy-duddy you (or your favorite teenager) feel like you are sometimes. That fun-having expert with a PhD in Play is still there. The problem might simply be that you don’t have any margin for …

- - - | written by Jason on 7/11/2021 | - - -

Do You Know the Real Reason They Made Stonehenge?

I remember the painting critiques back in art school. After spending several weeks working on our masterpieces, we’d all sit in a circle and explain what our paintings were about. Someone would inevitably say their piece was a postmodern reaction to the phycological impact of the industrial revolution that caused existential dread. To me it looked like a canvas with some paint sloppily applied. It did seem like the students who were better at making “serious" art got better grades. (Or perhaps they were just better at explaining why their art was serious.) Perhaps this is why, after making …

- - - | written by Jason on 8/16/2014 | - - -

Dinnertime Shenanigans: Ye Olde Timey Dinner

When you’re a kid, dressing up all fancy for dinner is exciting. Although it can be fun for grown-ups too, it doesn’t take long for Adultitis to creep in when one begins to worry about which fork to use or whether or not you have spinach in your teeth. The premise of an Olde Timey Dinner -- one of the highlights from the 2014 Escape Adulthood Summit -- is to keep the fun and ditch the pretense. You don’t need to attend an Escape Adulthood Summit to experience the fun of Ye Olde Timey Dinner. Here are some tips for hosting your own: WHAT to EAT You can serve whatever you want, but the …

- - - | written by Jason on 5/14/2013 | - - -

The World Would Be Better if We Had More Giant Rubber Duckies Floating Around

I'll just state the obvious, because we've all thought it: We need more giant rubber duckies floating around in our lakes, rivers, and harbors. We also need more artists to think of ideas like this. The giant yellow ambassador of fun pictured above is the work of conceptual artist Florentijin Hofman, who states: …

- - - | written by Jason on 5/10/2013 | - - -

Serving Fun as the Main Course with a Side of Crazy

Spatula City is a meal in which everyone eats dinner with unconventional utensils. Think spatulas, spaghetti forks and soup ladels. Barbarian Spaghetti is when you eat spaghetti without plates. Crazy might be when you combine them both. …

- - - | written by Jason on 4/9/2013 | - - -

The Power of Being Silly

Amen, sister. Let's hear it for being ridiculous. …

- - - | written by Jason on 4/7/2013 | - - -

A Simple, Quick and Ugly Guide to Fun

It is official: making ugly treats is a foolproof way to annihilate Adultitis. Indeed, forgoing the stress that can come from trying to create a confection that might make Martha Stewart weep tears of joy is not nearly as fun as concocting something that would have her wailing and gnashing her teeth. Although we have extolled the virtues of cooking up ugly cakes and cookies for some time, we had not actually undertaken the task -- until now. We used the latest Small Rebellion, aka The Ugly Treat Initiative, as a fitting excuse to jump right in. It's easy to be intimidated by some of the …

- - - | written by Kim on 4/3/2013 | - - -

My Birthday Comeback Story

Birthdays come with a a lot of pressure! Everyone -- including myself -- hopes that it's a GREAT day. Some years this greatness is easier to achieve than others. Last year was a breeze. We played hooky as a family, savoring the early spring weather at the zoo. It was a VERY awesome day! But this year (my 35th) was shaping up to be a real challenge. …

- - - | written by Jason on 2/26/2013 | - - -

Play is Napalm for Great Ideas

Wes Naman is a professional photographer. Like many professionals, he was a little burned out with the "professional" side of his work and needed a break. So he grabbed some Scotch tape and got silly. With the help of some open-minded friends, he used lots and lots of tape to wrench their faces into ridiculous positions. Then he asked them to try and remove the tape using only their facial muscles. It resulted in 33 photographs like the ones pictured above. Which led to the project becoming a viral sensation, the attention of the Scotch brand itself, and an unlimited supply of rolls …