In an effort to hold myself accountable, I post the progress of my yearly goals at the end of each month on this blog. The following are the results through February.
1. Don’t die.
I didn’t even require any CPR this month..
2. Lose ten pounds.
The four pounds I lost in January shrunk to three pounds in February, putting me seven pounds from my goal. But it’s been a week of dining out, which never helps.
3. Do at least 100 push-ups and 100 sit-ups five days a day. Also complete at least two two-minute planks five days per week.
Done.
4. Launch at least one podcast.
Equipment purchased. Software downloaded. Expert onboard to assist if needed. Work begins on April 1 when the book is finished.
5. Practice the flute for at least an hour a week.
The broken flute remains in the back of my car. I think. I haven’t actually bothered to look for at least six months.
6. Complete my fifth novel before the Ides of March.
Work continues.
7. Complete my sixth novel.
Work will not begin on this goal until the fifth book is complete.
8. Sell one children’s book to a publisher.
Work will not begin on this goal until the fifth book is complete.
9. Complete a book proposal for my memoir.
Work will not begin on this goal until the fifth book is complete.
10. Complete at least twelve blog posts on my brother and sister blog.
No blog posts written yet for the year.
11. Become certified to teach high school English by completing two required classes.
I received an email from the Connecticut Department of Education yesterday informing me that I am now just one class and an additional $50 away from achieving certification. That class will be taken in the summer.
12. Publish at least one Op-Ed in a newspaper.
I had another piece published in the Huffington Post yesterday. While this isn’t an actual print newspaper, do those even matter anymore? I may need to rethink this goal.
13. Attend at least eight Moth events with the intention of telling a story.
I attended two StorySLAMs in February and planned on telling a story at both. Unfortunately that did not happen. Fate denied me the opportunity. I will be at the Bell House in Brooklyn on Monday night with the hopes of telling a story and back n Brooklyn ten days later for the GrandSLAM.
14. Locate a playhouse to serve as the next venue for The Clowns.
The script, the score and the soundtrack are now in the hands of the necessary people. Fingers crossed. We also plan on applying for a New York theater festival in 2014, though that application process has not yet begun.
15. Give yoga an honest try.
Though I’m ready to try this whenever possible, the summer might be the most feasible time to attempt this goal.
16. Meditate for at least five minutes every day.
Done.
17. De-clutter the garage.
Progress! Our town’s sanitation department picks up two bulk items each week free of charge. On Tuesday an old bed frame and an ancient table were removed from the garage. In about six weeks all the old and unused furniture will be gone forever.
18. De-clutter the basement.
No progress.
19. De-clutter the shed
No progress. In fairness, it was impossible to reach the shed with the recent blizzard, but this is definitely a summer job.
20. Reduce the amount of soda I am drinking by 50%.
I begin recording my soda intake this month. My plan is to record of my soda consumption for a month in order to determine the average amount of soda I drink in a day and will then seek to reduce that number by 50 percent.
21. Try at least one new dish per month, even if it contains ingredients that I wouldn’t normally consider palatable.
In February I tried acorn squash and did not hate it.
22. Conduct the ninth No-Longer-Annual A-Mattzing Race in 2013.
Work will not begin on this goal until the fifth book is complete.
23. Post my progress in terms of these resolutions on this blog on the first day of every month.
Done.
