I don’t even do very many, but I’m about burned out on blog memes. That being said, Phil tagged me with this one (and threw in a challenge about Kim and I LOVING to play tag and other fun kids’ games) so, being all competitive and whatnot, here we go. It’s the Starbucker meme, and it requires me to answer the following questions: 1) How full is your glass? 2) What kind of glass is it? 3) What’s in the glass? and 4) Reasons for #1, #2, and #3.

1) My glass is 3/4 full.

2) The glass is actually a mug with Stinky on it.

3) It is filled with Kool-Aid. Oh yeah!

4) The glass is 3/4 full because I need room to blow bubbles with my straw. It has Stinky on it because I’m not above shameless self-promotion, especially as part of a meme that I’m not especially motivated by. It’s filled with Kool-Aid because I enjoy the taste sensation of drinking a melted popsicle. (I also have a special place in my heart for Kool-Aid because for years, the mustaches that resulted from drinking it were my only hope at facial hair.)

That is all.

Technorati Tags: Starbucker meme, Kool-Aid, memes, Stinky

| Comments (7)

What’s your favorite flavor of ice cream? See if you are in good company…

THE 10 MOST POPULAR ICE CREAM FLAVORS

1. Vanilla, 29%

2. Chocolate, 8.9%

3. Butter pecan, 5.3%

4. Strawberry, 5.3%

5. Neapolitan, 4.2%

6. Chocolate chip, 3.9%

7. French vanilla, 3.8%

8. Cookies and cream, 3.6%

9. Vanilla fudge ripple, 2.6%

10. Praline pecan, 1.7%

(Source: International Ice Cream Association, 888 16th St., Washington, D.C., 20006.)

We had an annual math lesson in my kindergarten class where we would made a class graph recording the students’ favorite ice cream flavor. It never failed, the same flavor won five years in a row by a landslide.

Blue moon.

As you might expect, it’s bright blue. Blue moon came out on top for five straight years because it is fun, not because it’s the best tasting flavor for five-year-olds. I can’t help but notice that it’s not on the list of top ten flavors.

When I was little we would occasionally make our way into Baskin-Robbins for a treat. Ya know, 31 flavors, so there were lots to choose from. I don’t believe blue moon was a choice, but pink bubblegum was (and still is). It is bubblegum flavored with candy coated pieces of bubblegum (like Chicklets). This chocoholic from birth would always order pink bubblegum. Why? It was fun!

Kids are perpetually seeking fun.

What about you? Are you still looking for fun? Even if you say you are, does your day-to-day life serve as proof? If so, I bet people (kids especially) are naturally drawn to you.

Fun doesn’t just happen…you have to work at it. What are you going to do to bring some fun into your day today?

Are you enjoying a vanilla cone or blue moon?

(Don’t miss the opportunity to pick your favorite flavor of premium ice cream. A free pint is yours when you place an order of $5 or more at the Kim & Jason Lemonade Stand. While supplies last.)

| Comments (2)

In the “Adults Are Ruining Everything” department, it seems that parents, colleges, and even the federal government are passing on their proclivity for busyness and stress to children. How?

By threatening free play and unscheduled time.

A report from the American Academy of Pediatrics that defends the importance of free play says, “Free and unstructured play is healthy and – in fact – essential for helping children reach important social, emotional, and cognitive developmental milestones as well as helping them manage stress and become resilient…Whereas play protects children’s emotional development, a loss of free time in combination with a hurried lifestyle can be a source of stress, anxiety and may even contribute to depression for many children.”

According to the study, parents are afraid to ease up for fear their children will fall behind and worry they will not be acting as proper parents if they do not participate in a hurried lifestyle. The competitive college admissions process encourages overloading one’s schedule with oodles of structured activities. And recent federal education policies have led to decreased levels of recess and physical education in schools.

What this adds up to is more young people growing up to be just like the Adulltitis-stricken doo-doo heads running the show now.

Great, just what we need.

My own mother saw the value in giving us kids free time and often left us to our own devices when it came to amusing ourselves — sans the TV. My brothers and I griped about being bored, but then we made up a game in the backyard, built a fort out of wood scraps my dad had in the basement, or created paper action figures (not dolls!) with crayons and construction paper. Would I have turned out to be so creative if I was pushed into a million activities that would make me stand out on a college application? I doubt it. Did I get accepted and graduate from Harvard? Nope. But I think I’m doing ok.

Here are two things I think we need to take away from all this:

1) Free play is not just beneficial for kids; it’s good for us grown-ups, too. For example, how much unstructured time is built into your typical weekend or vacation? If your answer is, “Not very much,” how’s that working for you? Floating through life on a stress-free cloud? All change starts from within, so before you can overthrow the system that “imposes” all these impossible standards of fast-paced living upon us, you need to overthrow the system of your own beliefs and habits.

2) Listen to your mother. She was fond of saying, “If everyone else decides to jump off a bridge, does that mean you will too?” Just because everyone else around you, from the college admission board to the school system to your next door neighbor is throwing a pool party advocating a lifestyle of non-stop busyness doesn’t mean you have to dive in. Send in your RSVP with a polite “no thanks” and head to the beach instead. You are not controlled by any conspiratorial “outside forces.” The choices you make are your own.

I’ll end this post with a bit of poignant prose from Charles Osgood. You can listen to the whole Osgood Files segment here.

I do recall back in the day
That children used to run and play.

Go out and find some other kid
And have some fun. That’s what they did.

Or sometimes they’d find more than one
And then the group would have some fun.

Maybe with blocks or dolls or ball
Or maybe with no toy at all.

Therefore at very little COST.
Has such play been completely LOST?

Is the pure joy of childhood play
Now obsolete and gone away?

If so that is a crying shame
And the adults who are to blame

Do mean the best I’m sure they do
But I have noticed, haven’t you?

That often an adult proclivity
Towards over organized activity

Has taken over what we do
And what we have our kids do too.

The world has changed, some people say
Our kids can’t just go out and play.

We need someone to supervise them
Someone to lead and organize them.

To do it any other way
Is far too dangerous today.

And in some places that is true
And what’s a parent then to do?

The experts say that playtime though
Is quite important, this they know.

Sometimes what kids may need is yes
Not more parenting but less.

Technorati Tags: free play, American Academy of Pediatrics, stress management, Charles Osgood, life balance

| Comments (7)

You are inundated with long lists touting the things you should do to reduce your stress levels. These lists are not revealing new secrets. Well, I’m throwing down the gauntlet- it’s time for action. Stress is linked to everything that kills us. Two out of every three doctor visits are stress related. You don’t need a degree from Yale to know that stress is a reality for any grown-up with a pulse.

Stop being overwhelmed with the long lists of things to change. I am confident that if you tackle these two your life will definitely change. Drum roll please…

1. Get ENOUGH sleep.

2. Exercise REGULARLY. (Thanks for convincing me on this, Eliz!)

That’s it.

In order for you to see any improvements in your stress levels you have to be completely truthful with yourself in regards to how much sleep you really need and about the choices you are making instead of exercise. So, although it seems easy, it is going to take some good old fashion honesty. Being honest with yourself is about as easy as an elephant riding a bicycle, but if you can’t be honest with the person in the mirror then what’s the point?

"To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man."
-William Shakespeare

Sleep is underrated, which is why most people brag about not getting enough. For those of you that need some convincing, here it is. Sleep is a period of restoration and repair for your body, mind, and spirit. Do not overlook that it’s actually a physical process. Healing is happening on a deep cellular level, and it’s all tied into your immune system. It increases memory, concentration and patience. Again and again I hear people proudly and naively claiming that they "only need 5-6 hrs. of sleep." It’s like a fifth grader trying to convince his mom that he "only needs to go to school for two hours a day." As if he knows what’s best for him. As if we know what’s best for our complex inner workings. It’s time you looked in the mirror and honesty answered the question, "Am I getting ENOUGH sleep?"

You know the excuses that accompany the non-active lifestyles…

There’s just no time. I’m so busy. I’d have to get up at like 4AM to squeeze it in.
I don’t have the right exercise equipment.
I can’t afford a gym membership.
I have a bad knee.

STOP with the excuses. They are lame. You don’t have to become the 2008 Body Builder Champion. We’re talking about increasing your heart rate for twenty minutes a day. It doesn’t matter how. Many people spend twenty minutes at the water cooler everyday. You can’t afford NOT to find that extra twenty minutes a day. How many minutes are you watching TV each day? If you don’t have any equipment, you can go for a walk/jog. If you have a bad knee, sit in a chair and get your upper body moving. There are a plethora of exercise resources for those in confined to a chair. Start here.

If you persist with the excuses your body will continue to hold onto toxins (poisons) and prevent the release of endorphins- those magical chemicals that keep you smiling and breathing deep, keeping Adultitis at bay. Ironically exercise helps you sleep better. There are lists and lists of diseases that are prevented through regular exercise. I use my daily walks as a time for prayer and meditation, restoring my spirit as well. You could listen to books during your workout, making it a time of self-development and education. Heck, you could even learn a new language. Hace este sano bueno, amigo?

One of the most underestimated benefits of these two things is your increased self-esteem. When you decrease those circles under the eyes, get rid of the frazzled mindset and chunky midsection, it’s easier to smile at that person in the mirror and it motivates you to be honest with yourself about the other (important) things on the list. Eventually you’ll feel motivated to challenge yourself with the other things- eating healthier, creating regular time for meditation and prayer, investing in a hobby, drinking enough water, giving of yourself by volunteering, becoming a livelong learner, etc.

Next time you complain about being tired, feel moody and stressed or are lacking energy, it’s time to look in the mirror and be honest with yourself.

Michael Jackson’s 1988 hit "Man in the Mirror" summarizes it perfectly.

I’m Starting With The Man In The Mirror
I’m Asking Him To Change His Ways
And No Message Could Have Been Any Clearer
If You Wanna Make The World A Better Place
Take A Look At Yourself, And Then Make A Change

Technorati Tags: honesty, exercise, sleep, Eliz Greene, Adultitis

| Comments (2)

1) The most popular flavor of ice cream is Vanilla

2) 80 percent of the world’s Vanilla Bean used for ice cream is grown in Madagascar.

3) The biggest ice cream sundae ever made was 12 feet high and made with 4,667 gallons of ice cream and 7,000 pounds of toppings in Anaheim, Calif., during 1985. 

4) 98 percent of all households purchase ice cream.

5) Children ages two through 12, and adults age 45 plus, eat the most ice cream per person.

6) More ice cream is sold on Sunday than any other day of the week.

7) The average number of licks to polish off a single scoop ice cream cone is approximately 50.

If you place an order of $5 or more at the Kim & Jason Lemonade Stand, you’ll get a free pint of premium ice cream. (While supplies last.)

(Sources: www.makeicecream.com and our shameless self promotion team.)

| Comments (2)

by Bob Henry

Last Thursday my manager at the telecommunications company I work for treated my whole department to custard from Culvers. We did not have the custard at the office - rather, we carpooled to the Culvers in Middleton and enjoyed a break from the hectic pace of the office for an hour and a half on a beautiful and sunny afternoon (a Ferris Bueller type of day indeed). We sat at the tables outside and talked and laughed. The highlight of this little adventure, however, was after we had finished our custard and were driving back to the office. I was in a minivan with several of my co-workers and a little confusion resulted in our driving twice around the Middleton roundabout! It reminded me of the scene in National Lampoon’s European Vacation where the Griswold’s were stuck in a roundabout in London. I was shouting out Clark’s words “Look kids! Big Ben! Parliament!” Everyone I was with laughed and we enjoyed the moment.

Club K&J members: share YOUR stories, strategies, victories and challenges in your quest to escape adulthood!

| Add a Comment!

You ever see a four-year-old walk into a room and declare, "Man! I am soooooo stressed out!"

Me neither.

There are a multitude of reasons that little kids aren’t stressed-out and inches away from little heart attacks, but one of them is because they tend to listen to their bodies. Mind you, this doesn’t happen consciously. Rather, they have the tendency to go with the flow; letting their bodies dictate when to go and when to crash. Fiction author Robin Brande calls this "living naturally." In a recent blog post, she painted a wonderful picture of a friend’s daughter as an atom: pure energy. At one moment, the little girl was dancing with her dog and plowing through the living room on her tricycle, the next moment she crashed in her father’s lap and was out like a light. Robin observes:

That’s the most natural living any of us gets to see, the kind of living done by little kids and puppies. They eat when they’re hungry, they eat everything they need, they run around and use up all their energy to the very last drop, and then they sleep…They just live the way their bodies and minds and spirits tell them to live, moment to moment. 

How true that is. Kids don’t need coffee to get themselves going in the morning or keep themselves awake so they can finish one more project. Americans are famous for putting in long work days, but I can’t help but wonder why, given all the time spent working, our quality isn’t always on par with the best in the world. Maybe we’re not listening to our bodies and we’re trying to do too much. Maybe we need to get back to basics and follow Robin’s example:

Yesterday after our hike I came home, took a shower, and crawled into bed. And slept for three solid hours. I didn’t worry about whether it would ruin my sleep that night, or what was going to happen with all that laundry out there waiting for me or that thick Sunday newspaper that needed reading. I turned off the phone, got in my jammies, took the mother of all naps.

What a happy girl was I.

Then spent the next few hours sitting in bed reading a book. Just like I didn’t care anymore! Just like I was a little girl again.

Just like I was allowed to.

Because I am. Because we all are.

That’s one of the best things about being a grown-up. We’re actually allowed to do these sorts of things. The problem is we don’t act like it. We have this little devil on our shoulder — carrying a full-blown case of Adultitis, by the way — telling us that we’ll ruin our sleep for the night, we’ll blow our diet and gain seven hundred pounds, the laundry won’t wash itself, our boss will fire us for not being more responsible, we’ll miss an important phone call from Ed McMahon, blah, blah, blah.

As I’ve said before, I’m in the permission business. If you’d like to, as Robin suggests, "Return to your roots as a 3 1/2-year-old and have chocolate milk and naptime and a few fish sticks if that’s what takes your fancy?", I hereby give you official permission.

You’re a grown-up now. You have the power. No go start acting more like a kid.

Technorati Tags: childlike, Adultitis, permission, stress management, natural living, naps, Robin Brande

| Comments (5)

Adultitis likes to ease you into routines, which ultimately leads to ruts. Once you’re in a rut, Adultitis is happy and wants to keep you that way. And while Adultitis is happy, you — and the people around you — are not.

One of the best (and easiest) ways to stay childlike is to try new things. It keeps YOU fresh and ADULTITIS frustrated. It’s fun, it gives you new perspectives on things, and helps you to stay curious.

Kim and I tried a new thing last Friday night: mini-bowling. We went with my buddy Phil Gerbyshak (read his article on mixing work and play in the Escape Adulthood magazine) and his wife.

Totally fun. Everything is small. The lane, the pins, the bowling ball, everything except, well…your head. It’s a lot easier to bring home a high score so you end up feeling like you may have missed your calling as next year’s PBA rookie of the year. And before long, your overconfidence inspires you to mug for the camera.

Hey, it wouldn’t be Wisconsin without some cheese. And Adultitis really HATES this kind of cheese.

P.S. After bowling, we went over to Phil’s house to watch our friend Scott (the Nametag Guy) in his appearance on 20/20. Way cool. You can watch it here.

Technorati Tags: Phil Gerbyshak, mini bowling, Adultitis, cheese, ruts, childlike

| Comments (2)

In this episode, brought to you from studio 203 in Madison, Wisconsin, we interview Brett Farmiloe, founder of Pursue the Passion, about his experience interviewing influential professionals who are propelled by a love for their work.

We also talk about how to find passion in your work, the price of passion, and how to get free ice cream.

Show Notes…

• Read all of the interviews conducted by Brett and his team at PursuethePassion.com. Plus, don’t miss the free e-book, Timeless Advice for the Aspiring Individual.

• To Find Passion in Your Work, Look in the Mirror (Indianapolis Business Journal)

• Price of Passion (News14.com)

• Download the inaugural FREE issue of the Escape Adulthood magazine.

• Check out our cool thing this month, these hip, trendy hardcover journals.

Win Stuff: Karla Feeney won a $20 gift certificate to the Lemonade Stand for answering the question, “What was something you enjoyed doing at HOME as a kid?” You can win a $20 gift certificate to the Lemonade Stand by letting us know, “What were you most passionate about as a kid?” E-mail us or leave us a message at 608-554-0803.

Show Music: Coyote Sleeps by Ethan Elkind

Show Length: 48 minutes, 57 seconds

Shout Outs: Thanks to Brett Farmiloe and Karla Feeney!

Feedback: We’d love to hear your thoughts! Add a comment below, e-mail us, or give us a jingle at 608-554-0803.

Technorati Tags: podcast, stress, escape adulthood, Adultitis, Ethan Elkind, Brett Farmiloe, Pursue the Passion, passion, work life balance, fulfilling career

| Comments (4)

The S.W.E.L.L. (Supremely Wonderful & Exciting Loot Lottery) prize winner for June is Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious member Rosefina Polis! Talk about a neat prize; Rose wins an old fashioned gumball machine for her home or office. Who didn’t beg mom or dad for some change to get a big gumball from those machines at the grocery store? Well now people will be begging Rose for some of her gumballs! Plus, once the gumballs are gone, she can fill up the machine with whatever goodies she wants. Sweet.

| Add a Comment!

As you may have heard, Mr. Wizard (aka Don Herbert) died on Tuesday. He demonstrated experiments using household items and explained the science behind ordinary things. I remember watching his show on Nickelodeon during the 80’s, but his original show began in the 1950s and was quite popular with the baby boomers. They say that the CSI: franchise has done much to encourage a renewed interest in forensic and archaeological science among kids; I would bet that Mr. Wizard did much to encourage the people who brought us a lot of the scientific breakthroughs we have seen in the last 30 years.

Those of you who remember the Nickelodeon version of the show will enjoy a fond trip down memory lane by watching the intro to his show:

There are too few people in the world empowering kids (and adults) to really be curious. We’ll miss you, Mr. Wizard.

Technorati Tags: Mr. Wizard, Nickelodeon, curiosity, curious, CSI, science, wizardry

| Comments (3)

1. Start the day with an early morning energizing walk.

2. Sleep under the stars.

3. Turn your cell phone off on the evenings and weekends.

4. Find water and sit by it. (It’s that simple.)

5. Dine outside at the local eatery.

6. Walk barefoot in the grass.

7. Send a card or write a letter to a friend (not an email).

8. Go for ice cream after dinner.

9. Invite your colleagues to an impromptu lunch in the grass.

10. Go fishing.

11. Check out books from the library.

12. Start a garden and play in the dirt.

13. Have a bonfire and make smores.

14. Reassess your goals.

15. Eat watermelon and spit the seeds on the ground.

16. Go on a bike ride.

17. Do a cannon ball off the high dive at the local swimming pool.

18. Lay in the grass and star gaze with a friend or honey.

19. Get up early on the weekend and enjoy the morning quiet.

20. Call a relative and relive fond memories together.

21. Listen to your music on the back porch.

22. Proactively schedule weekends to “just be.”

23. Climb a tree.

24. Go on a road trip.

25. Dream.

26. Don’t check email on the weekends.

27. Catch fireflies.

28. Have a full-fledged picnic…with the basket and checkered blanket.

29. Look at old photos.

30. Mow the lawn with some tunes and enjoy that fresh cut grass smell.

31. Go to a baseball game and get a hot dog.

32. Read poetry.

33. Watch the grass grow.

34. Write in your journal.

35. Blow bubbles.

36. Have a BBQ.

37. Take a nap in the shade.

38. Go to a drive-in movie or create your own at home.

39. Swing.

Technorati Tags: summer, slowing down, relaxing, escaping adulthood

| Comments (1)