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.
Kim and I recently compiled some video highlights of our visit to the National Museum of Play.
While we were there, we 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. Enjoy, I think.
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?
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.
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:
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?”
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.
We’ll contact the winner by e-mail to find out where to send the free prize.
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!
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!
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.)
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.
Every Thursday, we pick out one of the cool things from the 
