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 hard-earned cash on one thing… curing cancer! Inspired by the loss of his mother at a young age from cancer, he founded the Huntsman Cancer Institute in her honor. The dedicated folks there are working endlessly to not only cure cancer but to help improve the lives of cancer patients and their families. His namesake HCI building holds this quote “Selfless giving unto others represents one’s true wealth.” Time Magazine identified Huntsman as the sixth largest philanthropist in the United States in 2000. In 2007, he gave $750 million in contributions and donations. He proudly shared in this candid interview with Glenn Beck that he plans to die bankrupt.

Men like Mr. Huntsman both humble and inspire me to think bigger and give more. You don’t have to be a billionaire before you start sharing the gifts you’ve been given. In today’s busy world, sharing your time if often a greater challenge than sharing money.

So, exercise your heart this week. Share a comment on the Escape Plan Blog of what you decide to do to make the world a better place.

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Last week, Kim wrote about a recent trip to upstate New York. We were there for a speaking engagement and flew into Rochester, which is the home of the Strong National Museum of Play. This museum is a veritable Adultitis Hospital, and features many exciting exhibits, including the National Toy Hall of Fame. I have mentioned the Toy Hall of Fame on this blog no less that three times (here, here, and here), so it was a real treat to finally make a visit.

I had a chance to compile some highlights in video form. Feel free to take a virtual tour of the museum. How many of the toys featured in the video did YOU (or your kids) have?

Club K&J Bonus: While at the Museum of Play, Kim and I had the unfortunate displeasure of wandering down a spooky, out-of-the-way aisle which housed a display of frightening dolls. I put together a terrifying little short so that you can have nightmares too. Members can watch it here.

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“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.

If you were giving a last lecture, what message would you want to leave behind?

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We can help. But you gotta act fast.

P.S. Would it surprise you to know that Doug is a big Carlie Chaplin fan?

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Every Thursday, we pick out one of the cool things from the Kim & Jason Lemonade Stand and give it away. Yep, for free.

This week’s prize is 52 Things To Try Once in Your Life. The ultimate deck for spicing up your days, these fun and outrageous suggestions are bound to bring a renewed sense of adventure into anyone’s life.

Here’s how to enter:

1. Just leave a comment on this post, answering this week’s question: “What is something you’ve always wanted to try, but haven’t – yet?”
2. Deadline for entries is 11:59 pm CST on the day of the post. We’ll pick a winner from the list of comments on the following Friday.
3. We’ll contact the winner by e-mail to find out where to send the free prize.

Good luck! And don’t miss any of the other cool stuff for the young at heart at The Kim & Jason Lemonade Stand!

**UPDATE: This week’s winner was Becky:

I’ve always wanted to write a book.

Even though this week’s contest is over, you can still buy your very own 52 Things To Try Once in Your Life at the Kim & Jason Lemonade Stand. And stay tuned next week for the next chance to win!

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The S.W.E.L.L. (Supremely Wonderful & Exciting Loot Lottery) prize winner for March is Club K&J member Chris Hinton! Chris, who was randomly selected from the list of Club K&J members, wins a limited edition Cure Adultitis T-Shirt. Only a few of these were ever made, and this one is signed by both Kim and Jason! Congrats, Chris!

Do YOU wanna have a chance to win next month’s S.W.E.L.L. prize? Become an official Club K&J subscriber today!

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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 improvement in your overall happiness. Taking action is key.”

Childhood was rarely stressful, especially when you were four and five-years-old. This is probably because we were spending far more than an hour doing things we like to do. Take a page out of those simpler days to de-stress and increase your happiness. Leave the tax papers in their pile momentarily. Put down the dustbuster. A childlike moment or two will leave you thinking clearer, breathing deeper, and finding the good in seemingly not-so-good situations.

Here are some ideas to get you started… 27 ways to stomp out spring stress.

1. Jump in a puddle.

2. Pick some flowers and make them the centerpiece of your kitchen table. (Remember, dandelions count as flowers in childhood.)

3. Go for a walk and enjoy the chirping birds.

4. Send a “just because” card to a friend.

5. Try a brand new recipe for dinner.

6. Open the windows and put on your favorite music.

7. Blow bubbles.

8. Fly a kite.

9. Make a shamrock shake.

10. Light a candle, breath deep, and vision yourself accomplishing your biggest dreams.

11. Look through old pictures. (Appreciate your current hairstyle.)

12. Paint your toenails and go barefoot.

13. Play Twister.

14. Instigate a water fight during the dishes.

15. Make your favorite comfort food.

16. Plant something.

17. Read your favorite children’s book.

18. Arm wrestle someone.

19. Jump rope.

20. Draw a picture on your sidewalk with chalk.

21. Make cookies for someone.

22. Blow up balloons and hang them all over your house.

23. Play catch.

24. Download your new favorite song from iTunes.

25. Go on a picnic.

26. Make a countdown calendar for something you’re looking forward to.

27. Take a nap with the window open.

Share with us what you’ll spend your hour doing today?

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Allow me to toot my wife’s horn. Kim contributed to an article in the April issue of Woman’s Day, which should be hitting newsstands any second now. The article, written by Denise Schipani, is titled, “20 Things to Do With 20 Minutes.” A pretty good list of tips, if you ask me. Read ‘em all in the latest issue or watch the online slideshow.

Toot, toot.

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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 should be fleeing the country in record numbers…) Fortunately for us (cue sarcasm), we have seven more months to decide which of the three remaining selfless civil servants will, as our next President, swoop in and fix every last bit of it!

It’s times like these that make me thankful for my friend Stefan. Stefan is a speaker Kim and I met a few months ago who is a recent immigrant from Germany. He goes around giving speeches about why America is so great.

Yep, I said that right — great.

It’s easy for those who have lived here their whole lives to take America for granted. As someone who grew up in a dictatorship, Stefan has the fresh perspective to remind us of the things that make America great. It’s not just rhetoric, it’s reality — as seen through the new eyes of someone who knows how much worse it could be.

Do yourself a favor and take a few moments to watch Stefan in action. You’ll appreciate his childlike enthusiasm, fresh perspective, and wonder why we can’t have guys (and gals) like that run for President one of these days…

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This week’s Escape Plan challenge (aka our Tip of the Week) is #23: Photo Safari. Take a picture of the most childlike spot in town.

Sometimes you need a change of scenery. Sometimes you need to self-diagnose the ol’ Adultitis (or take the official intake here) and admit yourself into an Adultitis Hospital (aka a “childlike spot in town”).

A few weeks ago Jason and I were in Rochester, NY for some speaking gigs. We had heard that Rochester is home of the Strong National Museum of Play, which also houses the National Toy Hall of Fame. This definitely qualified for the “most childlike spot in town.” Exhibit after exhibit was filled to the brim with childlike fun and nostalgic time machines, whisking you back instantly. We really enjoyed seeing all of the toys inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame- everything from the teddy bear and Barbie to Lincoln Logs… and even the cardboard box! So much of it was hands-on… like the slinky and Lego exhibit. We even got to make crazy fantastical hats, celebrating Dr. Seuss’ birthday.

My favorite part, though, was walking up the stairs to 123 Sesame Street. Yep, they had a mock set of that magical street from childhood.

What a surefire way to Escape Adulthood!

So, where’s your most childlike spot in town? Leave a comment on the Escape Plan Blog and feel free to email me your picture.

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(This is an excerpt of an article written for Kim & Jason magazine by motivational speaker, author, and triathlete Jason Womack. He is skilled at offering practical suggestions for dealing with the challenges of balancing work and other areas of life.)

I was at a wedding last summer, at a winery atop the rolling hills of Oregon. At one point during the meal, the bride and her mom approached my table and said, “Hey, Jason, do you remember Billy Walsh?” It turns out she knew my best friend from 2nd grade! And in an instant, it all came back…

Playing “Connect Four” for hours at school.

Hiking along the Pepper Creek for hours in Lagunitas, California.

Playing for hours with Legos® all over the living room floor.

Building a “secret fort” to get away from our little brothers…for hours!

Now-a-days, we have to make conscious and concerted decisions to “slow down, stop, and smell the flowers.” And, I can personally attest to the “business case” of slowing down. The only question is…what do we DO when we press pause?

Every now and then, we need to call on those who know us the best.

Who’s on your team? Who can you call to get you back on track, re-motivated, and inspired to take the actions, complete the projects, and stretch out into new landscapes you may not have seen just yet? You might not have the “hours and hours” I had as a child to spend with my best friend. Not to worry.

Here are two ways to maximize your relationships with the people on your team, the people who you know help you out, and the ones you want to share your time, your spirit, your creativity and your ideas with in return.

Write a Letter

Write just one letter a week. I know, I know it doesn’t seem like much but as this issue’s theme is “delighting in the little things,” I can tell you how far those “little cards” go in making and creating friendships that last.

Here’s what I do (and, feel free to use and/or modify this technique) to stay connected: I buy half a dozen cards at once. Usually on sale (shhhh!!! It’s the little things, remember!) and I put first-class stamps on them. I write my return address in the upper left-hand corner, and then I put the cards in my briefcase.

Through the week, I will randomly – it just happens, I can’t help it! – think of people. No matter where I am, it’s usually just a matter of minutes until I have written them a note, added their address to the envelope, and placed that card in my “traveling inbox.” When I check into the hotel that night, or take out my inbox the next morning, I place the card in the mailbox and go along my way…

Well you’re in luck, because you can read the whole thing starting on page 18 in this FREE digital version of Kim & Jason magazine.

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Spring is finally here and Easter is this weekend. You might think that Adultitis would be inclined to take a few days off. Not quite. The Cure Adultitis Institute has released a new case study chronicling the extreme effects of the condition. Who knew the Easter Bunny could be so controversial?

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