It’s that time of year again. The beginning of each new year brings with it the inevitable urge to get healthy; to eat better, exercise more, and lose those love handles. Usually the effort lasts a solid week or two and then most of us fall off the wagon.
It seems like one of the reasons for the sudden and predictable collapse comes from our tendency to “adultify” our plans. Our plates get filled with food that would have any self-respecting child running for the hills. And our workout routines involve overly structured regimens and boring reps. Blech.
Let’s throw the current childhood obesity epidemic out the window for a second. I’d place a wager that when you were a kid — six or seven years old, for instance — you were in pretty good shape. Back in the day, most kids were. And they weren’t eating shrubbery for dinner and running on a treadmill for thirty minutes every day.
A big key to maintaining a healthy lifestyle is injecting it with a healthy dose of fun. Many people dread working out, because that’s what it is: working. It’s a monotonous chore that gets old quick.
Unless you’re a body builder or training for a triathlon, exercise is really just a fancy way to say, “be active.” Kids don’t “exercise” at all. But they do spend their days doing things like playing tag, hopscotch, and kickball, riding bikes, jumping rope, dancing around, climbing the monkey bars, flying kites, roller skating, and running through the sprinkler.
Some of the best ways to be active might involve activities that you wouldn’t normally consider exercise at all. I enjoy playing basketball. Even if there is no one around to play one-on-one with, I just like shooting around. Sometimes I have a contest with myself to see how many free throws I can make in a row, or how many I can make out of a hundred. It’s fun. And it can turn into quite a workout; shooting the ball and chasing after rebounds gets the ol’ heart rate up. The funny thing is, I never think of it as “working out.” Because it’s fun.
I’m sure there are a number of things you enjoy doing (or used to enjoy doing) that get you just as active, but which don’t come to mind when you think you need to exercise. Think back to your childhood for some ideas. In addition, making something into a game or competition, incorporating music, and involving friends or family are all things you can do to make things more fun.
The other side of the healthy lifestyle coin involves food. And again, diets usually conjure up images of bland food and boring (if any) desserts. Moderation is a big key here, but I am a big proponent of not cutting out your favorite foods. Chocolate is one of the greatest things God ever invented, and a little here and there is good for you and your soul. (By the way, a small bar of dark chocolate every day can keep your heart and cardiovascular system running well.)
Look at some of your favorite foods from childhood, and see if there’s a way to make a more nutritious alternative. Peanut butter and jelly on whole wheat bread is still a pretty tasty (and healthy) lunch. Mac and cheese made with whole wheat pasta and real cheese is way better for you than the stuff that comes in a box.
Most people get in trouble because the portions they eat are too big, and the stuff they eat is over-processed. It is my belief that food should be fun, and as long as you don’t overdo it on portion size and keep the stuff made in a factory to a minimum, you should have no problems maintaining a sensible weight.
Getting and staying healthy should be a priority for everyone. Life is meant to be lived to the fullest, and it’s hard to do that with a body that is broken down due to carelessness and neglect. Eating well and staying active will forever be the cornerstones to a healthy lifestyle. But injecting fun and making it enjoyable are the keys to making it stick.
We all know the importance of staying active, and of course, burning a few extra calories is never a bad thing for the ‘ol waistline. In fact, more than 120 million Americans, or 64.5% of the adult population, are overweight, and almost 59 million, or 31%, are obese. If you’re like me, however, exercise can sometimes feel like a chore, inducing Adultitis.
When I was little I had no problem being active. In fact, I distinctly remember my mom shaking her head at me and saying, “I wish I had your energy!” My secret? I was having fun! Running around playing tag sure didn’t feel like exercise, and it certainly wasn’t as boring as running on a treadmill. Play is a child’s work. So, if you’re looking at the scale and wondering how you’re going to manage to lose those pounds in 2009 without losing your sanity, check out these ideas from years past. This list is the 9-5 of childhood. Be inspired to add a few of these ideas to your 5-9.
1. Go on a bike ride.
2. Build a snowman.
3. Have a dance party in your living room.
4. Play hopscotch.
5. Walk around a museum.
6. Enjoy a rousing game of flashlight tag.
7. Climb a mountain or hill.
8. Play kickball.
9. Go swimming.
10. Have a water fight.
11. Plant a garden.
12. Build a sand castle.
13. Play musical chairs.
14. Take a factory tour.
15. Decorate your driveway with sidewalk chalk.
16. Go horseback riding.
17. Play catch.
18. Try archery.
19. Learn to juggle.
20. Fly a kite.
21. Play home run derby.
22. Go ice skating.
23. Join a team for a sport you love.
24. Take a walk with your camera.
25. Play dodge ball.
26. Run through an obstacle course.
27. Go fishing.
28. Take a sunrise walk.
29. Play tag.
30. Enjoy some mini golf.
31. Go bowling.
32. Work on a home improvement project.
33. Learn to play an instrument.
34. Go on a walk with your binoculars.
35. Play with a Wii.
36. Jump rope.
37. Take a dance class.
38. Go to a zoo.
39. Try skiing.
40. Roller skate or roller blade.
41. Play Red Rover.
42. Go Christmas caroling.
43. Have a snowball fight.
44. Learn martial arts.
45. Take a nighttime hike.
46. Play H.O.R.S.E.
47. Skip rocks.
48. Play frisbee golf.
49. Have fun with a pitch back.
50. Go sledding.
51. Paddle a canoe.
52. Ride a scooter.
53. Play pickle.
54. Run through the sprinkler.
55. Toss water balloons.
56. Play capture the flag.
1. Watch a funny Christmas movie. (We recommend Elf, Christmas Vacation, and A Christmas Story.)
2. Get cookies from the best bakery (or friend) in town.
3. Hire a neighbor kid looking for a few bucks to take care of your shoveling.
4. Organize a gift exchange, instead of buying for everyone.
5. Better yet, make it a white elephant gift exchange.
6. Keep up on your sleep and exercise. Quick naps and short walks can do wonders!
7. Change your voicemail to reflect the joy of the season.
8. Don your dog in a red sweater, or your cat in reindeer ears.
9. Read the classic holiday stories before bed (whether you have kids or not.)
10. Attend a Christmas pageant.
11. Make sure you have a collection of holiday music in your car.
12. Hang Christmas lights around a window in your bedroom. (Like this.)
13. Get all online shopping done by a predetermined date.
14. Order carry-outs for Christmas Eve.
15. Delegate your least favorite chores.
16. Send holiday e-cards instead of using snail mail.
17. Go for a ride to see the lights.
18. If you live in a place where it gets dark early, take a vitamin D supplement.
19. Purchase a new favorite Christmas album.
20. Jump on a sled and ride it down a hill.
21. Send a letter to Santa. (And help make wishes come true.)
22. Block out the busy crowds — wear your iPod while Christmas shopping.
23. Schedule gift exchanges with friends for January, not December.
24. Drink 8 glasses of water each day (it’s pretty much the cure for everything).
25. Go to the movies and see the holiday blockbuster.
26. Lay under the Christmas tree with only the tree lights on. (Like this.)
27. Keep hot chocolate and marshmallows handy at all times.
28. Wear a Santa hat while Christmas shopping.
29. Build a snowman with your coworkers.
30. Watch the Charlie Brown Christmas special.
31. Hang mistletoe in your home.
32. Go Christmas shopping with a friend. Make a fun day out of it.
33. Get your picture taken with Santa. He’s happy to see kids of ALL ages.
34. Keep a gift giving budget.
35. Catch a snowflake on your tongue.
36. Go Christmas caroling. (That’s how Jason and I met!)
37. Get into a snowball fight, preferably with an unsuspecting friend.
38. Treat yourself. Set aside 30 minutes a day just for you.
39. Change your email sig to reflect the fun of the holidays.
40. Go ice skating.
41. Make a birthday cake for Jesus.
42. Arrange for Santa to visit your house on Christmas Eve.
43. Instead of wrapping presents, use gift bags.
44. Buy or make a Christmas countdown calendar/chain.
45. Put holiday-themed wallpaper on your desktop.
46. Don’t overdo it — it’s actually ok to say no to some of the holiday parties.
47. Hang Christmas lights around your desk or in your cube.
48. Set up a wrapping station in your home to make things more efficient.
49. Decorate the tree with some of your favorite people.
50. Light a good smelling holiday candle.
51. Cut your junk mail into snowflakes.
52. Exuberantly pop the bubble wrap that comes in your online orders.
53. Leave a plate of cookies for Santa (and a carrot for the reindeer.)
54. Change the ringer on your cell phone to a Christmas song.
55. Share stories about the best Christmas ever.
56. Hang a picture of the Grinch on your fridge to remind you to smile.
57. Wear red and green to work.
58. Treat yourself to a holiday massage or manicure.
59. Share a plate of yummy cookies with an elderly neighbor.
60. Buy a pre-lit tree.
61. Make a donation to your favorite charity. (Here’s some of ours.)
Photo by xetark
1. Wish Bone Whimsy
Don’t let the day pass you by without partaking in the ever-so-childlike tradition of breaking the wish bone. Sounds barbaric, but it’s always a cool moment. It’s fun to mix up from year to year the person who gets to do the honors. Drawing names out of a hat is a simple and fair way to handle it. If possible, draw the name in a large group and invite the two lottery winners to go head-to-head in front of everyone. This allows everyone to be involved and recall memories of wishes from years past.
2. Name That Bird
Be sure to name your turkey… and Tom is not allowed! This is a playful way to add some fun throughout the preparation, as you refer to the bird by his/her given name. Heck, you can even go so far as to give it a middle name. Get everyone involved in the conversation. If you have a super large family, have a small group come up with a list of five suggested names. Put them on a piece of paper and invite all arriving guests to put a tally mark next to his/her favorite, that way everyone will feel like they contributed to the process.
3. Pass the Pie Please
Surprise everyone by having dessert first. As kids, you know you pledged to yourself that you would one day do this, but before long Adultitis sets in and those memories fade away. Giddy smiles of delight will overflow and you can rest assured you will receive overwhelming support from those childlike spirits in your presence. If you’re outnumbered by Adultitis-ridden folks who can’t get beyond the tradition of having dessert last, go ahead and enjoy your pie without them. Don’t you worry, there will be at least a few kids to joining you.
4. Express Yourself
Kids love to dress for the theme of the moment. Hey, if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em. When you’re out picking up those last minute preparation items, go ahead and splurge on those 99-cent turkey socks. Dig through the closet to find your autumn-colored clothes. If you want to be “that guy” you can even pick up a turkey hat or that pumpkin covered shirt (Kindergarten teacher style). To take a step even farther, rent a pilgrim costume. Clothes are an easy way to express enthusiasm for the moment at hand. Don’t let the moment pass you by to show your true colors.
5. Recreate the Charlie Brown Thanksgiving
As an untraditional appetizer of sorts, invite your guests to partake in a recreation of the classic Charlie Brown’s Thanksgiving. Make up some tall stacks of buttered toast, serve up pretzels, ice cream sundaes, popcorn and jelly beans. Then, grab your lawn chairs and sit back to enjoy the show. Just because Peppermint Patty didn’t appreciate Snoopy and Woodstock’s creative take on the classic meal doesn’t mean you can’t. You’re guaranteed to find the childlike spirits in the room with this fun tradition.
6. Amp up the Play
After dinner and football have had their rightful places, invite folks to play a big family game, something that crosses generations and can involve everyone. A few favorites to think about are spoons, flag football, kickball, hot potato, Pictionary, Bingo, Balderdash, Who am I?, Apples to Apples, and a personal favorite, Quelf. If your group is just too ginormous to pull off playing all together, have a number of different games going on and people can go from one thing to the next, based on their interest. If your family loves to play cards, have a big tournament with various tables, and the winner gets to bring home the leftover desserts.
7. Movie Magic
Once the turkey coma has set in, watch a movie together as a group. Pick one that will appeal to all ages and will be entertaining and fun. Typically there’s a holiday movie released the year before that will work well. Some other suggestions are: Evan Almighty, WALL-E, Monsters, Inc., Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, The Little Rascals, The Princess Bride, Spiderwick Chronicles and any Disney movie. There’s something heartwarming about sharing laughter with family…and seeing Uncle David snoring in his chair.
8. Make a Moment
Be sure to “have a moment” at the beginning of the meal. If you’re not comfortable ask someone who will be to say a few words, as well as lead the group in a prayer or reflection. Remember those who are no longer with you and welcome those who are new to the crew. This is a heartfelt, sincere and ultimately childlike way to bring everyone to a similar mindset as you gather together. Ignore the eye rolls and let the moment be what it is.
9. Spice It Up
Start a new tradition by adding a playful side dish that you would normally not see on your Thanksgiving dinner table. Try to pick something that will bring a smile to the faces of unexpected family members. Here are a few yummy ideas: fried cheese curds (a Wisconsin favorite), french fries, rainbow Jell-O, gourmet mac ‘n cheese, birthday cake, a stack of toast or a bowl of jelly beans (in honor of Charlie Brown), etc. If nothing else, you’re creating a conversation piece, allowing family to talk about something else besides religion and politics.
10. Cooking Cooperation
Don’t leave the cook out on an island. Seize the opportunity to build relationships by cooking together. Some of the best conversations and memories are made while stirring gravy and mashing potatoes. If there are kids in the mix, invite them to learn some new cooking techniques and have fun letting them put their spin on them. When you have multiple cooks in the kitchen, the time goes a lot faster and the resentment levels (often maximized by the host) will decrease, as the fun overcomes the list of to-do’s.
In the the last hundred years or so, we’ve seen technology bring about more advancements than the rest of human history combined. We’ve come a long way, baby.
For the most part, these advancements have served us well. We’re able to produce more food, travel longer distances in less time, eradicate once-deadly diseases, and improve the length and quality of our lives.
Some negative consequences, such as increased pollution and more dangerous weapons, have been ushered in as well. But I think the most dangerous side effect is that we find the promise of what the future holds so compelling, we’re willing to throw the wisdom of the ages right out the window. We are so eager to reach for the new and improved that we discard the traditions of the past as old-fashioned and out of touch.
And boy, are we paying the price.
One such tradition that seems to be going the way of the dodo bird is the family dinner. With so many things going on these days, who has time to gather together all at once? Why, it would be a scheduling miracle of epic proportions! Long work days. Day care pickups. Soccer practice. Dance recitals. Evening meetings. With such full plates, family dinner is the first to go. The rise of fast food joints and microwave ovens make it seem an easy sacrifice.
Unfortunately, the very thing you’re sacrificing is the health, intimacy, and future of your family.
As Miriam Weinstein wrote in her book, The Surprising Power of Family Meals, “We’ve perfected the segmentation of the family. Nobody has to eat the same food, watch the same show, listen to the same song, let alone sing it. We love to imagine the French with their lush tables, or the Italians with their big families, but we prefer to gobble our take-out, our home delivery, our single-serve microwave, on the run, in front of the TV, in the food court, or in the car, while we dream of quality time, of family vacations, of someplace far away.”
If you care about your family at all, you may want to reconsider the importance of family dinners in your life. The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University did a study that divided teenagers into two groups. The first group had dinner with their family five times a week or more. The second group had dinner together with their family two times a week or less. The results were astounding.
They discovered that the kids who ate dinner more often with their families were up to 45% less likely to smoke, drink, use drugs, be suspended from school, or have sex at young ages. They are twice as likely to receive A’s in school. Kids who frequently eat dinner with their families are likelier to confide in their parents and are at a lower risk for thoughts of suicide. Other studies from a wide variety of divergent fields have found equally surprising results. Regular family dinners discourage obesity and eating disorders and make kindergartners better equipped to read (even more so than getting read to!)
Isn’t it amazing to think how much depends on dinner?
Please note, we’re not talking gourmet dinners here. The study didn’t mention anything about preparing meals that would make Bobby Flay jealous. And the conversation? That doesn’t have to be all that engaging, either.
Heck, in my house growing up, a typical dinner conversation often included my Dad farting and blaming it on a duck under the table. Which resulted in giggles from me and my two brothers and an icy glare from my Mom (which usually was concealing a nearly undetectable smirk.)
Oh, and my Dad also had a penchant for asking the same, stupid, boring question every single night: “How was school today?”
Naturally, we’d respond with the same stupid answer: “Fine.”
But the thing is, if by some freak occurrence, something actually did happen at school that I wanted to talk about, I knew my Dad (and Mom) would be there to ask the question. That shared time together, that calm amidst the storm that we call life, is so vitally important. In a world that often seems like it has gone crazy, the best thing you can do for the health and sanity of your family is to step off the hamster wheel once a day and share a simple meal together. The conversations that do occur help parents to learn more about their children’s lives and help them to better understand the day-to-day challenges their kids face.
Maybe a regular family dinnertime really is tough to swing. Well, who says you can’t make breakfast your regular meal time? If all parents knew how important eating dinner together as a family was to their children — something that used to be an unquestioned element of family life in this country — I think we’d see a lot more people doing it. If you struggle finding time to corral the troops for mealtime on a regular basis, I encourage you — no, I beg you — to try harder. Not only is it a pretty good way to escape the hustle and bustle of the outside world for a few moments each day, the benefits it provides your children are priceless. And if family dinners are already part of your regular routine, why not give it even more attention, intention, and fun?
Life is fast, and technology is making it even faster. Don’t get so sucked into the promise of the future that you abandon a time-tested ritual that our ancestors knew to be vital. Bring the tradition of eating dinner together back into the fabric of your life. The health and happiness of your family depends on it.
*Bonus Feature*
Watch this 3-minute video of me creating the artwork for this column from beginning to end! (It’s been sped up to avoid making you fall asleep.)
Also, the original painting is available for purchase for just $100. If you’re interested in owning it, e-mail me. First come, first serve.
iPod Version (17.6 MB) | Subscribe with iTunes
Chris Riddle, the official Halloween transponder for American Greetings, a major national manufacturer of Halloween party supplies and cards, has earned himself the nickname of “Mr. Halloween.” He has been a featured guest on HGTV, Fox News, and his Halloween Trend Observations, has been quoted in Time, USA Today, and The New York Times. We sat down with Chris to learn more about his cool job, his Halloween tattoos, and some of his favorite holiday memories.
* * * * * *
Jason: Tell us a little bit about your job, what you do, and how you got to be known as Mr. Halloween.
Chris: Well, Mr. Halloween has followed me since my childhood. Being an artist I was always drawing, and it just so happened – this is a funny story – that way back, I want to say fourth, fifth, sixth grade, all the way through high school, they always had contests in Ohio where you would actually paint the outside of a business in any given city.
And so we’d start school and I was always sketching Halloween pumpkins and witches and all that. From fourth grade all the way through my senior year I won the contests for the school, and I was always out there painting Halloween stuff.
But I also have to thank my mom because she loved Halloween. Looking back on all the pictures that I have of the family, she was always the one that was most in-costume, with the biggest smile, encouraging us to carve pumpkins and make our own costumes at Halloween.
So, as you see all the time on TV with athletes, I’ve got to thank my mom. You know, it’s one of those things where it was real important. So that kind of followed me then when I started my career at American Greetings. Everyone found out that I was actually collecting Halloween antiques and that I had quite a history of that, and I have a couple tattoos that are Halloween tattoos.
It’s kind of weird. I like to play the scary one, so it’s been that way for a long time. In a sense, even though I started as an illustrator on the board at American Greetings and kind of worked myself up to an art director and all that, because I have such a love for the holiday and such an interest, they said, “Well, why don’t you help every year with trends? Think in terms of a year out, where we want to be in the way of color and subject matter. Work with as many of the staff as you need to to come up with new ideas based on a proven subject matter.”
So it was just the matter of then going out – it really starts about the end of August – and looking at a lot of different aspects. Mostly women’s fashion, because 95 percent of our products are bought by women. So you’re kind of looking at color.
We also have some color organizations in New York City that we are members of. We fly out to New York and look at the colors a couple years out at that point. But then you’re just projecting where you want to be the following year. I have a group of artists that do that, and it’s just wonderful to work with such creative people, but to also do something that is a part of your passion as well.
Jason: That’s cool. So what tattoos do you have?
Chris: Well it’s interesting. I also collect original turn of the century Wizard of Oz books, because I love The Wizard of Oz. In the actual second book, I think it was, Jack was a highly respected member of Oz, and so the tattoo I have on my leg actually has the pumpkin head of Jack and the symbol of Oz.
On my back I have a frowning and a smiling pumpkin.
And then I have the the pumpkin patch. The weeds and all the vines go down to other areas on my back. It’s something I’ve had for a while. But when you have a passion you don’t mind doing that kind of crazy stuff.
Well, my wife wasn’t happy, but hey, that’s just the way it is.
Kim: Oh, that’s so cool. Tell us a little bit about your antiques and memorabilia. How did that all begin and what’s your favorite item that you have?
Chris: Yes, it’s interesting. My parents passed away young and I inherited a lot of boxes. I found so much of my mom’s stuff that she had collected from the ‘40s and kept. I said, “Boy, now I know why she so loved Halloween as a family-oriented holiday.”
In my early 20s when my wife and I would travel around the United States, one of the first places I’d want to go visit would be the nearest antique store. Even though we might be at Mt. Rushmore or we might be in L.A., I was going through the Yellow Pages looking for antique stores. It just started clicking that way and it’s been probably well over close to 30 years that I’ve been collecting Halloween antiques, way before they got too expensive for people to do it.
So it’s just something I have up all year-round. I have display cases in all parts of the house, and I also have little sneaks of Halloween in the kitchen and the dining room and the bedrooms. When people visit, every part of the house is a little bit special about Halloween.
And from my standpoint, Halloween antiques especially are a little bit about the loving spirit of those people that actually kept that pristine Halloween antique over the decades. I end up getting something in my possession, and it brings me such joy because I know the love that that person had for the holiday has now entered my house and my collection. So it’s really special.
Jason: Do you have a favorite item in your collection?
Chris: Well, you know, I love my Halloween postcards and greeting cards, because that’s where it gets kind of personal. People are talking about the time of year and the harvest and missing the family, and “I can’t wait to see you during Christmas,” you know, things like that.
It’s interesting because the addresses are not like you have a long numeral address. It’s like 12 Central Street. I mean, that’s all it is, and even when they say “Give me a call,” the telephone number’s like three digits.
Kim: Wow.
Chris: Way back in the ‘20s and ‘30s, that’s all it was. So that kind of thing is very endearing to me because it was special enough that someone kept that close to their heart, and now I have it as part of my collection, so it’s wonderful.
Jason: So, as a trends person, how have you seen Halloween change over the years?
Chris: You know, I think it changes, but it changes fashion-wise, it changes in color. But I have to believe that everyone goes back a little bit to their childhood when they think in terms of Halloween. Of course, it’s like that as Christmastime as well. I think when you talk about Halloween to people and they bring up their memories about Halloween, they smile.
I think it’s a little bit about the fact that they remember when they were children and running around the neighborhood and getting candy. And going to school in costume and having a great time, and also the memories with their family at that time.
So when I talk in terms of what’s happening in the way of product, it’s a little bit of looking back, but looking back with an eye towards where color is going to be a year from now, or where styled art is going to be.
But yet, the subject matter and the warmth in the copy is always going to be there, and maybe a little bit from where you’ve come from. And in terms of what decade you grew up in. And then how can we put that into our product? So it’s a little about looking forward and looking back at the same time.
Jason: And it seems like adults really are taking Halloween back.
Chris: Yes, they really have. I mean, next to New Year’s Eve parties and Super Bowl Sunday, Halloween is the third largest celebration that adults involve themselves in. It’s become a $5 billion industry. You can just go through suburbia and people are decking out the outside of their homes with the lights and spider webs and all kinds of wonderful things.
And I think it’s just a wonderful release for people at this time of year with the pressure they have at work and all of that. They just kind of go back and say, “You know what? I remember how this used to be. And as an adult, and maybe part of a wonderful family, I’m going to continue to celebrate this.” So I think it’s just a wonderful time of year.
Kim: What was Halloween like for you as a kid? Obviously you say it was really great and you have some awesome memories. What do you remember the most?
Chris: Well, you know, it always started probably a week before when my mom and dad would get one of the largest pumpkins there were. All of us kids would carve pumpkins that we knew were going to be put out on the front porch. And of course you would have to make the yearly scarecrow in the front yard.
My mom would bake apple pies and things like that, so you’d have that smell in the house. And of course, it’s all about the smell outside, because with the turning leaves and the way that the light and the sun changes outside as well, it creates warm shadows at this time of year.
You can tell I’m excited just to be talking about it, but it’s what you see visually and the smells and everything else I think that gets you going. Then all of a sudden it’s a couple days before Halloween, and of course time has changed, so there’s no light out at 6:00.
You know, it’s the anticipation of going out and just running yourself ragged trick-or-treating with your friends. It’s just wonderful memories.
Then as you get older, instead of watching, going to the movies of course. And I remember as a child going to horror movies – they were black and white at that time – and being scared to death. And now of course it’s all DVDs and cable television but it’s just a wonderful time of year.
Jason: So what about these days? What do you do for Halloween? What’s your favorite Halloween activity now?
Chris: Yes, I have to say I’m running around now as an adult. I mean, there are probably three or four different neighborhoods that I need to go to, and I only have two-and-a-half hours.
And I have my video camera, my normal camera. My wife is with me, we’re running around, I’m trying to photograph families. I’m photographing the way people have decorated the outside of their homes. I’m invited inside homes now because people know I’m coming every year, so they need me to come in and they take pictures with me and their family.
Kim: It’s Mr. Halloween!
Chris: Yes. It’s kind of fun. But for me it’s always about going out on trick-or-treat night and just hearing the laughter of the children and the wind blowing through the trees. And hopefully it’s going to be a night where it’s cloudless and there’s a moon out casting a wonderful shadow on everything. Oh my God, it’s wonderful. I can’t wait!
Kim: It’s coming soon!
Chris: Yes, it’s coming soon.
Kim: Well, we always end our interviews with a question that gets you thinking back to childhood.
Jason: Which is not too hard for you at this time of year.
Chris: No, it’s not.
Kim: This is a very easy one, but what was your favorite Halloween costume as a kid?
Chris: Well, there was a time in my life when I was a teenager where I’d get pretty decked out. And I think one time I was a werewolf, and I spent hours and hours and hours on it. This was before I really bought rubber masks and things like that.
I made myself up really, really good. I would actually be on all fours a lot and then come up to the door and I’d be on my haunches. But I was so good that I’d scare everybody away.
So I just had to go in the house at that point because my mom and dad were going, “You know, no one wants to come to our house this year.” And so I ended up having to go out because they didn’t want me around. But from my standpoint, I created such a buzz in the neighborhood and everybody wanted me to go up to their house.
Kim: It must have been pretty convincing if people were so scared of it, Chris.
Chris: Oh, I know, but it’s all about the trick and the treat. People don’t remember that, I would always tell kids when they used to come to the house, “So, what kind of trick do you know, because it’s trick-or-treat? Do you know why you’re saying trick-or-treat?” and all that. There’s a little bit of that history that a lot of kids don’t know.
Jason: So, tell us about that. What was the original concept behind Halloween?
Chris: Well, boy, Halloween goes back so far, but I would have to say it started way back in New England, way back in I want to say the 1860s. There were farms back then and people had a lot more parties in those days. You’d go to a barn party and you’d have to entertain in order to get anything, whether it be the food or it was part of the harvest festival. So people put on skits, and actually had to do things. They just couldn’t come. You had to come with something in the way of an entertainment.
So it’s a little bit about the “trick” in treat-or-treat and you’d get a treat. In New England, they kind of said to people, “Well, is it a joke? Do you have to come in and say something? Something to make them laugh? What kind of trick?” You’re doing something magical or something when you ask for a trick-or-treat, and you have to do something in order to get a treat. So it kind of goes back to that, and I don’t know if people even know that these days. But it’s so funny to hear kids going “trick or treat.” They usually don’t want to do it anymore.
Jason: It’s all about the magic words. I guess kids will do whatever they can do to get candy!
Chris: Absolutely, yes.
When you were little, were you ever afraid of the dark? I sure was. From horns and hair to scabs and skeletons, thinking about what lurked among the shadows was an all-you-can-eat buffet for my imagination.
In fact, I may not have made it through childhood without that humble but powerful life-saving device known as the night light. Although small in size and wattage, it did a remarkable job of keeping the creepy-crawlies at bay. Without it, I’m sure I’d have long been digested in the belly of a slimy beast from the netherworld known as “Underthebed.”
Many lives have been saved by the simple night light. Perhaps it wouldn’t have been needed if we only believed the advice from our parents: that there really aren’t any monsters under the bed; they’re only in our imagination.
But alas, parents are never very convincing.
Perhaps that is because grown-ups also deal with monsters. They just live in a different place. You see, as we get older and grow up, the monsters take up a different residence. They move out from under our beds, and move up into our…heads.
Think I’m nuts?
How many times have you laid awake at night, worried, scared, or anxious about any number of things? This stuff keeps us up, and it can wreak some terrifying results.
But our parents were on to something when they tucked us into bed and tried to calm our fears about the monsters. You know, the part where they told us that the monsters only exist within our imagination.
That’s the key word to keep in mind: imagination.
Think back to when you were five-years-old. Maybe you had a window in your bedroom. And maybe just outside that window was a tree. By day, that tree looked like an ordinary tree. Harmless. Almost friendly, even.
But at night, that tree cast some weird shadows into your room. Right before your eyes, it somehow transformed into an enormous, ravenous T-Rex, with dagger teeth and jagged claws, ever-reaching in your direction. Ominously, it eyed you, tucked into your sheets and blankets looking a lot like a ravioli-shaped midnight snack.
And yet, looking back with the advantage of years and wisdom, it’s obvious that there really wasn’t a T-Rex lurking just outside your bedroom window. It was just that tree, casting shadows that our imagination ran wild with, concocting spine-chilling possibilities that we couldn’t help but believe. It all seemed so convincing.
Our imaginations are pretty good at what they do.
Here’s the thing. As adults, no matter how creative we think we are (are aren’t), our imaginations don’t shut off. The stuff that keeps you up at night now is still largely the product of a very overactive imagination.
That’s not true, I hear you saying. The stuff I’m worried about is real-world stuff. Things like my job and my mortgage and my kids.
Ok, I hear you. But now hear this: Most of the stuff we worry about never happens.
I’ll say it again. Most of the stuff we worry about never happens.
Think back over the last year and call to mind all of the things you spent time worrying about. I’ll bet you that most of the stuff didn’t amount to anything at all. And the few things that did come to pass were nowhere near as frightening as your imagination led you to believe.
Just as it did with the ominous shadows slithering across our bedroom floors, our imagination takes kernels of doubt and the vast unknown and concocts it into a possible future outcome. An outcome that more times than not gives us the heebie-jeebies.
It is an interesting trait of human nature that when it comes to imagination and our future, we automatically go more toward the negative than the positive. Think about it. You hear rumors about possible layoffs at work. Do you naturally assume that your job will be unaffected and begin expecting a promotion? Or does your train of thought lead to a scenario that has you being the first one cut, resulting in you being unable to pay your mortgage, having your house foreclosed, and living under a bridge eating Spam out of a can?
The negative outcome tends to be where our imagination spends its time, and it’s the one that keeps us up at night. So what’s a person supposed to do about this?
Here’s what I am proposing. First, let us acknowledge the stuff that contributes to our uncertainty and anxiousness is largely attributable to our imagination. Once we can accept that, then let us put our imagination to work for us, instead of against us.
If you are wracked with fear over a particular issue, be it relatively large or small, begin by letting your imagination do what it wants to do anyway: go negative. That’s right, pull out a sheet of paper and write down the absolute worst possible outcome you can imagine. This should come quite easily, as it is the thing that’s been stealing your peace of mind for so long. Don’t leave out any gory details, including instantaneous death by embarrassment or a new career as a bum or bag lady.
Now, once you are scared senseless and ready to pee your pants, take out another sheet of paper and write down the best possible outcome you can dream up. It may take a while for your imagination to kick into high gear, but when it does, reach for the sky. We’re talking fantasy land, pie in the sky, Hollywood-couldn’t-write-it-because-it’s-too-unbelievable type of stuff. Have fun with it.
Okay, now that you’ve balanced things out a bit, take out a third (and final) sheet of paper and write down what you imagine to be the likely outcome to your particular scenario. This will probably fall somewhere in between the first two outcomes. It might be a bit uncomfortable or unpleasant, but it will be nowhere near as terrifying as you first suspected. Take comfort in the knowledge that God never gives us any more than we can handle.
This activity is a simple one, but if you give it a shot, it won’t be long before a sense of peace starts to descend upon you. Writing out the scary stuff that’s in your head is like shining a light on the situation. It clarifies the facts – that tree really is just a tree – and helps us to see just how ridiculous our initial assessment of the situation really was.
A T-Rex?! Phfffft. Those went extinct a million years ago!
The monsters that terrorized you years ago have much in common with the ones that kept you up last night. Our imagination is a powerful tool, and with a little guidance, it can serve as a helpful night light that guides us to a present peace and a future that is better than we ever expected. Sweet dreams!
Earlier this month, we shared 5 games you can play with your office mates in episode #34 of the Escape Adulthood Show. We had more ideas than would fit in one episode, so we’ve included five more here. Enjoy!
1. Just For Fun Day
Incorporate some simple fun on a certain day of the week, like wearing goofy or retro ties every Thursday. Pick something that fits the culture of your group. Have customers vote on the best or wackiest tie. Other ideas: hat day, funny t-shirt day, barefoot day, dessert day, silly sock day, Hawaiian shirt day, bandana day, pajama day, etc.
2. Show & Tell
People love to talk about themselves. Take turns every month giving each employee the chance to share about him/herself. Designate a bulletin board for this, so that the staff can hang pictures of their family, sports logos, favorite TV shows, etc. Encourage them to bring in a favorite dessert on one of the days.
3. Book/Movie/TV Show Club
Have the staff agree to read a certain book, or watch a specific movie or TV show. Then have everyone discuss it over lunch or on a Friday afternoon.
4. Snack Break
Who says kindergartners are the only ones who get snack time? Make it a daily habit to take a 15-minute mid-afternoon snack break each day as a staff. Healthy snacks keep the energy levels up and the metabolism firing. Each person can bring their own snacks or you can assign days.
5. Competition
Healthy competition is a great way to team build. Incorporate some playfulness by playing darts, mini golf around the office or assigning partners and conducting chair races.
Do you love going to work every day? Chances are, your answer to that question is either an enthusiastic “yes” or a hearty laugh and a “yeah, right.” I wish there weren’t so many people in the latter camp.
Believe it or not, having a job you love is not a pipe dream. If it is, then please don’t wake me up.
No, dream jobs are not reserved for the lucky, the well-financed, or the ones with Ivy League diplomas. Not by a long shot. Believe it or not, your dream job is within your reach. I’ve outlined some of the most important tips to help you find your way. But be warned: The advice is brutally honest. But I’m sure you’ll find it as helpful as it is frank.
First, don’t be an idiot.
Following your heart and chasing your dream job can sound pretty fluffy. But following your heart doesn’t mean you should abandon common sense. Take your time. Plan wisely. Calculate your risks and act accordingly. It’s not an all-or-nothing proposition. Reach for your dream, but don’t be an idiot.
Eating pachyderms.
Oftentimes, people look at their current situation, compare it to their dream career, and become totally overwhelmed. They focus on all of the things that would need to to occur in order to make that future dream a reality. The chasm looks too wide, the change too great. Dejected, they tell themselves that their current lot isn’t so bad after all, and settle for a life of silent disappointment.
The secret lies in the old saying about how to eat an elephant. I’m not sure what elephants taste like, or why you’d ever want to eat one, but the answer, of course, is one bite at a time. Don’t overwhelm yourself with the big picture and all of the details. Just take one bite. If you look objectively at your situation, there’s always one thing that makes sense as the next bite. It might be a tiny bite, but after that, another bite will present itself. Before you know it, you’ll have eaten the whole thing. *Burp*
Don’t focus on the losers.
It’s easy to scan your surroundings and find all sorts of people who have failed in their attempt at a dream. For the love of God, don’t use this as evidence to support why YOU can’t succeed! The history of mankind is filled with people who found a way to succeed when others around them failed. Perhaps they worked just a little bit longer to find the solution. Or maybe they used their creativity to find a different path.
Learn from the people who have failed. What did they do wrong? What didn’t they try? But never, never, never let those failures cause you to believe that success isn’t possible. If a trail hasn’t yet been blazed, then blaze your own. If you have an interesting mix of skills, think about how you might be able to combine them to offer something completely new. For instance, many cartoonists don’t like public speaking very much, and most professional speakers can’t draw. I’ve been able to combine these two skills (along with some others) to offer something unique to the market. The bottom line is this: just because someone hasn’t succeeded in some area doesn’t mean success is not possible.
Give up on the perfect.
To the restless souls who may be reading this, I’d like to point out that there are no perfect jobs. Even the jobs that seem perfect have their annoyances and difficulties. The power and money is nice, but presidents have to deal with lots of headaches and professional athletes endure rigorous training and endless travel.
Now please don’t misunderstand me. This is not a free pass to stay trapped in a job that you know could be better. But don’t waste your time flitting from one career to the next just because you have the false expectation of finding the perfect situation completely void of hassles and boredom. Not gonna happen.
Beware the almighty benefits.
I cannot tell you how many people choose to stay in their current soul-sucking, black-pit-of-death job solely for the benefits package.
Because we’re self-employed, Kim and I pay for our own health insurance. Self-funded health insurance can be expensive, and adding on maternity benefits costs an arm, a leg, and a house in the Hamptons. Naturally, this caused some concern as we contemplated starting a family.
Armed with the knowledge that we certainly were not the first couple to ever have a child without the almighty benefits, we did some research. To make a long story short, we looked into the actual costs involved with delivering a baby and all the assorted tests and doctor visits. We discovered that if we put a certain amount into savings each month, we’d actually come out farther ahead than if we paid the monthly premiums to add maternity coverage to our current health plan.
So that’s what we did. And we found a birth center that we fell in love with which allowed payment plans and discounts for pre-payment. Ultimately, all of the pregnancy and birth costs will be completely paid in full before we welcome our first child into the world.
Just one example that where there’s a will there’s a way. Please don’t stay in a job you hate just for the benefits. You’re worth more than that.
Risk is a requirement.
In order to achieve your dreams, some kind of risk will be required. It might be financial, physical, emotional, or all of the above. As I write this, the economy is experiencing a bit of a downturn. A down economy usually makes people shrink back from taking risks and trying new things. Ironically, sometimes that’s the best time to start a business. Opportunities are everywhere. When people are experiencing problems or pain, and you can step in with a solution, you will be very much in demand.
Don’t use the economy (or anything else, for that matter) as an excuse to stand pat and avoid a risk. There will never be a perfect time to make the leap. Believe me, you won’t have to try too hard to find some reason why it’s better off staying right where you are. But ships weren’t built to stay in the harbor. Eventually, you need to push away from your comfort zone to experience the exhilaration of an open sea adventure.
Listen to the guy upstairs.
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention my belief that unless you’re in line with the Big Guy Upstairs, you may be in for a rocky go of it. I believe that we were built by our Creator to accomplish great things through him. He’s the one that planted the dreams and desires in our heart. Spending time in prayer and letting Him guide your steps is not only wise counsel, but it is a big comfort during the the rough patches of the journey. Because if you’re working on something worthwhile, the rough patches are sure to come.
Honesty and change can be icky. Get over it.
You need to be willing to be uncomfortable. I’d say that this is the biggest reason people stay stuck in jobs they hate. Change is not easy. Sometimes it’s scary. And let’s face it, most people reading this have a pretty decent and comfortable life.
To get from where you are to where you want to be is not easy. But you have to be painfully honest with yourself. You need to quit living by rules that don’t exist. You may have a small list of reasons why you can’t really pursue your dream job. They seem iron-clad. But you know what?
They’re weak.
Think about all of the reasons you think you can’t change your current situation. There are probably a million of them, sounding like this: I don’t have enough experience. There’s too much competition. The town I live in is too small. I have a family to support. We need the benefits. I don’t have enough money to get started. I’m too old. I’m too young. The list goes on and on. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying these might not be hurdles.
I’m simply saying that they can be hurdled.
Examine your list of reasons why you can’t do something and be brutally honest with yourself. Analyze each one to see if you’ve elevated it to a rule that doesn’t really exist. Chances are, you probably CAN overcome those hurdles. But maybe – and this is where the brutal honesty comes in – it will require a little more effort or sacrifice or risk than you are willing to give. If that’s true, then fine. Admit it. But do me and yourself a favor and instead of complaining that you can’t do something, just admit you don’t want it bad enough.
How’s that for honesty?
Fun. Scary. Exhilarating. Tiring. Invigorating. Challenging. Rewarding. Going after your dream is all of the above. It delivers a life filled with adventure and leaves the world a better place because of all the people you impact along the way.
Sometimes it’s an overwhelming task, but it is my wish that these thoughts will inspire you to take that next step on your journey. Oh, and I hope your elephant tastes delicious.
