diff --git a/core/src/attr.rs b/core/src/attr.rs
index d90b6c3..df64a0f 100644
--- a/core/src/attr.rs
+++ b/core/src/attr.rs
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-use crate::{HasUi, WidgetIdFn, WidgetLike, WidgetRef};
+use crate::{HasUi, StateLike, WidgetIdFn, WidgetLike, WidgetRef};
 
 pub trait WidgetAttr<State, W: ?Sized> {
     type Input;
@@ -9,7 +9,9 @@ pub trait Attrable<State, W: ?Sized, Tag> {
     fn attr<A: WidgetAttr<State, W>>(self, input: A::Input) -> impl WidgetIdFn<State, W>;
 }
 
-impl<State: HasUi, WL: WidgetLike<State, Tag>, Tag> Attrable<State, WL::Widget, Tag> for WL {
+impl<State: HasUi + StateLike<State>, WL: WidgetLike<State, Tag>, Tag>
+    Attrable<State, WL::Widget, Tag> for WL
+{
     fn attr<A: WidgetAttr<State, WL::Widget>>(
         self,
         input: A::Input,
diff --git a/core/src/event/ctx.rs b/core/src/event/ctx.rs
index 1b8969e..d1a82bb 100644
--- a/core/src/event/ctx.rs
+++ b/core/src/event/ctx.rs
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-use crate::{HasEvents, HasState, HasUi, Ui, Widget, WidgetRef};
+use crate::{HasEvents, HasState, HasUi, StateLike, Ui, Widget, WidgetRef};
 use std::ops::{Deref, DerefMut};
 
 pub struct EventCtx<'a, State, Data> {
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ impl<State: HasUi, Data, W: ?Sized> DerefMut for EventIdCtx<'_, State, Data, W>
     }
 }
 
-impl<'a, State: HasUi, Data, W: Widget> EventIdCtx<'a, State, Data, W> {
+impl<State: HasUi, Data, W: Widget> EventIdCtx<'_, State, Data, W> {
     pub fn widget(&mut self) -> &mut W {
         &mut self.state.get_mut()[self.widget]
     }
@@ -57,3 +57,60 @@ impl<State: HasEvents<State = State>, Data, W: Widget> HasEvents
         self.state.events_mut()
     }
 }
+
+impl<State, Data, W: Widget> StateLike<State> for EventIdCtx<'_, State, Data, W> {
+    fn as_state(&mut self) -> &mut State {
+        self.state
+    }
+}
+
+// fn test() {
+//     use crate::*;
+//     struct ClientRsc;
+//     impl<State, Data> HasUi for EventCtx<'_, State, Data> {
+//         fn get(&self) -> &Ui {
+//             todo!()
+//         }
+//
+//         fn get_mut(&mut self) -> &mut Ui {
+//             todo!()
+//         }
+//     }
+//     fn on(_: impl for<'a> EventFn<ClientRsc, &'a mut i32>) {}
+//
+//     pub trait WidgetLike<State: HasUi, Tag>: Sized {
+//         type Widget: Widget + ?Sized + std::marker::Unsize<dyn Widget>;
+//
+//         fn add(self, state: &mut State) -> WidgetHandle<Self::Widget>;
+//
+//         fn with_id<W2>(
+//             self,
+//             f: impl FnOnce(&mut State, WidgetHandle<Self::Widget>) -> WidgetHandle<W2>,
+//         ) -> impl WidgetIdFn<State, W2> {
+//             move |state| {
+//                 let id = self.add(state);
+//                 f(state, id)
+//             }
+//         }
+//
+//         fn set_root(self, state: &mut State) {
+//             state.get_mut().root = Some(self.add(state));
+//         }
+//
+//         fn handles(self, state: &mut State) -> WidgetHandles<Self::Widget> {
+//             self.add(state).handles()
+//         }
+//     }
+//
+//     pub struct WidgetTag;
+//     impl<State: HasUi, W: Widget> WidgetLike<State, WidgetTag> for W {
+//         type Widget = W;
+//         fn add(self, state: &mut State) -> WidgetHandle<W> {
+//             state.get_mut().add_widget(self)
+//         }
+//     }
+//
+//     on(move |ctx| {
+//         ().add(ctx);
+//     });
+// }
diff --git a/core/src/event/manager.rs b/core/src/event/manager.rs
index 14a05c2..1c49664 100644
--- a/core/src/event/manager.rs
+++ b/core/src/event/manager.rs
@@ -116,11 +116,12 @@ impl<State: 'static, E: Event> TypeEventManager<State, E> {
         self.map.entry(widget.id()).or_default().push((
             event,
             Rc::new(move |ctx| {
-                f(&mut EventIdCtx {
+                let mut test = EventIdCtx {
                     widget,
                     state: ctx.state,
                     data: ctx.data,
-                });
+                };
+                f(&mut test);
             }),
         ));
     }
@@ -128,7 +129,7 @@ impl<State: 'static, E: Event> TypeEventManager<State, E> {
     pub fn run_fn<'a>(
         &mut self,
         id: impl IdLike,
-    ) -> impl for<'b> FnOnce(EventCtx<State, E::Data<'b>>) + 'a {
+    ) -> impl for<'b> FnOnce(EventCtx<'_, State, E::Data<'b>>) + 'a {
         let fs = self.map.get(&id.id()).cloned().unwrap_or_default();
         move |ctx| {
             for (e, f) in fs {
diff --git a/core/src/widget/like.rs b/core/src/widget/like.rs
index 7841149..dac20f6 100644
--- a/core/src/widget/like.rs
+++ b/core/src/widget/like.rs
@@ -1,12 +1,22 @@
-use crate::HasUi;
+use crate::{HasUi, Ui};
 
 use super::*;
 use std::marker::Unsize;
 
-pub trait WidgetLike<State: 'static + HasUi, Tag>: Sized {
-    type Widget: Widget + ?Sized + Unsize<dyn Widget> + 'static;
+pub trait StateLike<State> {
+    fn as_state(&mut self) -> &mut State;
+}
 
-    fn add(self, state: &mut State) -> WidgetHandle<Self::Widget>;
+impl StateLike<Ui> for Ui {
+    fn as_state(&mut self) -> &mut Ui {
+        self
+    }
+}
+
+pub trait WidgetLike<State: HasUi + StateLike<State>, Tag>: Sized {
+    type Widget: Widget + ?Sized + Unsize<dyn Widget>;
+
+    fn add(self, state: &mut impl StateLike<State>) -> WidgetHandle<Self::Widget>;
 
     fn with_id<W2>(
         self,
@@ -18,21 +28,21 @@ pub trait WidgetLike<State: 'static + HasUi, Tag>: Sized {
         }
     }
 
-    fn set_root(self, state: &mut State) {
-        state.get_mut().root = Some(self.add(state));
+    fn set_root(self, state: &mut impl StateLike<State>) {
+        state.as_state().get_mut().root = Some(self.add(state));
     }
 
-    fn handles(self, state: &mut State) -> WidgetHandles<Self::Widget> {
+    fn handles(self, state: &mut impl StateLike<State>) -> WidgetHandles<Self::Widget> {
         self.add(state).handles()
     }
 }
 
 pub trait WidgetArrLike<State, const LEN: usize, Tag> {
-    fn add(self, state: &mut State) -> WidgetArr<LEN>;
+    fn add(self, state: &mut impl StateLike<State>) -> WidgetArr<LEN>;
 }
 
 impl<State, const LEN: usize> WidgetArrLike<State, LEN, ArrTag> for WidgetArr<LEN> {
-    fn add(self, _: &mut State) -> WidgetArr<LEN> {
+    fn add(self, _: &mut impl StateLike<State>) -> WidgetArr<LEN> {
         self
     }
 }
@@ -43,8 +53,8 @@ macro_rules! impl_widget_arr {
         impl_widget_arr!($n;$($W)*;$(${concat($W,Tag)})*);
     };
     ($n:expr;$($W:ident)*;$($Tag:ident)*) => {
-        impl<State: 'static + HasUi, $($W: WidgetLike<State, $Tag>,$Tag,)*> WidgetArrLike<State, $n, ($($Tag,)*)> for ($($W,)*) {
-            fn add(self, state: &mut State) -> WidgetArr<$n> {
+        impl<State: HasUi + StateLike<State>, $($W: WidgetLike<State, $Tag>,$Tag,)*> WidgetArrLike<State, $n, ($($Tag,)*)> for ($($W,)*) {
+            fn add(self, state: &mut impl StateLike<State>) -> WidgetArr<$n> {
                 #[allow(non_snake_case)]
                 let ($($W,)*) = self;
                 WidgetArr::new(
diff --git a/core/src/widget/tag.rs b/core/src/widget/tag.rs
index fa30cc4..899dea0 100644
--- a/core/src/widget/tag.rs
+++ b/core/src/widget/tag.rs
@@ -1,46 +1,46 @@
+use super::*;
+use crate::HasUi;
 use std::marker::Unsize;
 
-use crate::HasUi;
-
-use super::*;
-
-pub struct ArrTag;
-
 pub struct WidgetTag;
-impl<State: HasUi + 'static, W: Widget> WidgetLike<State, WidgetTag> for W {
+impl<State: HasUi + StateLike<State>, W: Widget> WidgetLike<State, WidgetTag> for W {
     type Widget = W;
-    fn add(self, state: &mut State) -> WidgetHandle<W> {
-        state.get_mut().add_widget(self)
+    fn add(self, state: &mut impl StateLike<State>) -> WidgetHandle<W> {
+        state.as_state().get_mut().add_widget(self)
     }
 }
 
 pub struct FnTag;
-impl<State: HasUi + 'static, W: Widget, F: FnOnce(&mut State) -> W> WidgetLike<State, FnTag> for F {
+impl<State: HasUi + StateLike<State>, W: Widget, F: FnOnce(&mut State) -> W>
+    WidgetLike<State, FnTag> for F
+{
     type Widget = W;
-    fn add(self, state: &mut State) -> WidgetHandle<W> {
-        self(state).add(state)
+    fn add(self, state: &mut impl StateLike<State>) -> WidgetHandle<W> {
+        self(state.as_state()).add(state)
     }
 }
 
 pub struct IdTag;
-impl<State: HasUi + 'static, W: ?Sized + Widget + Unsize<dyn Widget> + 'static>
+impl<State: HasUi + StateLike<State>, W: ?Sized + Widget + Unsize<dyn Widget>>
     WidgetLike<State, IdTag> for WidgetHandle<W>
 {
     type Widget = W;
-    fn add(self, _: &mut State) -> WidgetHandle<W> {
+    fn add(self, _: &mut impl StateLike<State>) -> WidgetHandle<W> {
         self
     }
 }
 
 pub struct IdFnTag;
 impl<
-    State: HasUi + 'static,
-    W: ?Sized + Widget + Unsize<dyn Widget> + 'static,
+    State: HasUi + StateLike<State>,
+    W: ?Sized + Widget + Unsize<dyn Widget>,
     F: FnOnce(&mut State) -> WidgetHandle<W>,
 > WidgetLike<State, IdFnTag> for F
 {
     type Widget = W;
-    fn add(self, state: &mut State) -> WidgetHandle<W> {
-        self(state)
+    fn add(self, state: &mut impl StateLike<State>) -> WidgetHandle<W> {
+        self(state.as_state())
     }
 }
+
+pub struct ArrTag;
diff --git a/macro/src/lib.rs b/macro/src/lib.rs
index 43ab00b..0daa56a 100644
--- a/macro/src/lib.rs
+++ b/macro/src/lib.rs
@@ -155,6 +155,18 @@ pub fn derive_ui_state(input: TokenStream) -> TokenStream {
         impl HasState for #rscname {
             type State = #sname;
         }
+
+        impl StateLike<#sname> for #sname {
+            fn as_state(&mut self) -> &mut Self {
+                self
+            }
+        }
+
+        impl StateLike<#rscname> for #rscname {
+            fn as_state(&mut self) -> &mut Self {
+                self
+            }
+        }
     });
     output.into()
 }
diff --git a/src/bin/test/main.rs b/src/bin/test/main.rs
index c6b3848..e252901 100644
--- a/src/bin/test/main.rs
+++ b/src/bin/test/main.rs
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ impl DefaultAppState for Client {
             .on(CursorSense::click(), move |ctx| {
                 let child = image(include_bytes!("assets/sungals.png"))
                     .center()
-                    .add(ctx.state);
+                    .add(ctx);
                 (span_add.r)(ctx).children.push(child);
             })
             .sized((150, 150))
@@ -119,9 +119,7 @@ impl DefaultAppState for Client {
                     .text_align(Align::LEFT)
                     .wrap(true)
                     .attr::<Selectable>(());
-                let msg_box = text
-                    .background(rect(Color::WHITE.darker(0.5)))
-                    .add(ctx.state);
+                let msg_box = text.background(rect(Color::WHITE.darker(0.5))).add(ctx);
                 (texts.r)(ctx).children.push(msg_box);
             })
             .handles(&mut rsc);
diff --git a/src/event.rs b/src/event.rs
index 876a145..3b17a2d 100644
--- a/src/event.rs
+++ b/src/event.rs
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ use crate::prelude::*;
 pub mod eventable {
     use super::*;
     widget_trait! {
-        pub trait Eventable<State: HasEvents + 'static>;
+        pub trait Eventable<State: HasEvents + StateLike<State> + 'static>;
         fn on<E: EventLike>(
             self,
             event: E,
diff --git a/src/widget/position/span.rs b/src/widget/position/span.rs
index 09ec245..eef6c6f 100644
--- a/src/widget/position/span.rs
+++ b/src/widget/position/span.rs
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ pub struct SpanBuilder<State, const LEN: usize, Wa: WidgetArrLike<State, LEN, Ta
     _pd: PhantomData<(State, Tag)>,
 }
 
-impl<State, const LEN: usize, Wa: WidgetArrLike<State, LEN, Tag>, Tag> FnOnce<(&mut State,)>
+impl<State: StateLike<State>, const LEN: usize, Wa: WidgetArrLike<State, LEN, Tag>, Tag> FnOnce<(&mut State,)>
     for SpanBuilder<State, LEN, Wa, Tag>
 {
     type Output = Span;
diff --git a/src/widget/position/stack.rs b/src/widget/position/stack.rs
index ef0b4e7..087243a 100644
--- a/src/widget/position/stack.rs
+++ b/src/widget/position/stack.rs
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ pub struct StackBuilder<State, const LEN: usize, Wa: WidgetArrLike<State, LEN, T
     _pd: PhantomData<(State, Tag)>,
 }
 
-impl<State, const LEN: usize, Wa: WidgetArrLike<State, LEN, Tag>, Tag> FnOnce<(&mut State,)>
+impl<State: StateLike<State>, const LEN: usize, Wa: WidgetArrLike<State, LEN, Tag>, Tag> FnOnce<(&mut State,)>
     for StackBuilder<State, LEN, Wa, Tag>
 {
     type Output = Stack;
diff --git a/src/widget/text/build.rs b/src/widget/text/build.rs
index 1f97193..b91b43d 100644
--- a/src/widget/text/build.rs
+++ b/src/widget/text/build.rs
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ impl<State, O, H: WidgetOption<State>> TextBuilder<State, O, H> {
     }
 }
 
-impl<State: HasUi + 'static, O> TextBuilder<State, O> {
+impl<State: HasUi + StateLike<State>, O> TextBuilder<State, O> {
     pub fn hint<W: WidgetLike<State, Tag>, Tag>(
         self,
         hint: W,
diff --git a/src/widget/trait_fns.rs b/src/widget/trait_fns.rs
index f87bcce..9663158 100644
--- a/src/widget/trait_fns.rs
+++ b/src/widget/trait_fns.rs
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ use crate::prelude::*;
 
 // these methods should "not require any context" (require unit) because they're in core
 widget_trait! {
-    pub trait CoreWidget<State: HasUi + 'static>;
+    pub trait CoreWidget<State: HasUi + StateLike<State> + 'static>;
 
     fn pad(self, padding: impl Into<Padding>) -> impl WidgetFn<State, Pad> {
         |state| Pad {