Each month I review the progress of my yearly goals and report on that progress as a means of holding myself accountable.
Here are the results for May.
__________________________________
PERSONAL HEALTH
1. Don’t die.
Still standing.
2. Lose 20 pounds.
I didn’t lose any pounds in May. I didn’t gain any pounds in May.
I’ve lost 8 pounds in total.
3. Eat at least three servings of fruits and/or vegetables per day, six days a week.
Done! Along with bananas, grapes, apples, and pears, I also ate carrots, onions, potatoes, and an assortment of vegetables in various soups.
4. Do at least 100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, and 3 one-minute planks for five days a week.
Done.
5. Do burpees three days a week.
I did 3-4 burpees per day, 3 times each week in May.
Also burpees are still stupid and ridiculous. Not getting any better. This was a terrible idea.
WRITING CAREER
6. Complete my seventh novel before the end of 2019.
Still waiting for a go-ahead from my editor regarding my next book. This is the problem with being two books ahead. No one is in a rush for your 2022 novel.
I’ve started writing anyway.
7. Write/complete at least five new picture books, including one with a female, non-white protagonist.
I have a fantastic new children’s book idea. I’ve started writing it.
8. Write a memoir.
Work continues. I’m worried it’s not very good.
9. Write a new screenplay.
No progress.
10. Write a musical.
No progress.
11. Submit at least five Op-Ed pieces to The New York Times for consideration.
I submitted a piece to the NY Times Modern Love column in April.
One down. Four to go.
12. Submit one or more short stories to at least three publishing outlets.
No progress.
13. Select three behaviors that I am opposed to and adopt them for one week, then write about my experiences on the blog.
No progress. Also, I need three behaviors to attempt.
Thoughts?
14. Increase my storytelling newsletter subscriber base to 3,000.
34 new subscribers in May for a total of 649 new subscribers in 2019. My list now stands at 2,759 subscribers.
If you’d like to sign up for my newsletter, you can do so here:
15. Write at least six letters to my father.
None written in May. None written this year.
16. Write 100 letters in 2019.
Three letters written in May. Nine overall. I’ve fallen a bit behind.
17. Convert Greetings Little One into a book.
A kind, generous, and amazing human being has begun work on this project.
I am thrilled.
STORYTELLING
18. Produce a total of 10 Speak Up storytelling events.
One show produced in May. We recorded Speak Up Storytelling before a live audience.
A total of 7 shows produced so far in 2019.
19. Begin selling Speak Up merchandise at our events and/or online.
Done! We began selling tee shirts and totes at our live podcast recording.
Next step is to make it available online.
20. Pitch myself to at least 5 upcoming TEDx events with the hopes of being accepted by one.
Done! I’ve pitched myself to five TEDx conferences and was nominated for a sixth.
All have now passed on my pitches. No one wants me.
I guess I’ll just keep pitching.
21. Attend at least 15 Moth events with the intention of telling a story.
I attended two Moth StorySLAMs in May, bringing my total to nine events so far.
22. Win at least three Moth StorySLAMs.
My name was not drawn from the hat at the New York City StorySLAM that I attended in May.
I finished in second place in a Moth StorySLAM in Boston. Once again by one-tenth of a point.
That is four second place finishes by a tenth of a point in a row .
Two wins so far in 2019.
23. Win a Moth GrandSLAM.
I finished in second place by a tenth of a point in a Moth GrandSLAM in January.
I finished in fourth place in my Moth GrandSLAM in March, but I think I might’ve told my best story ever.
I’ll be competing in another Moth GrandSLAM in NYC in July.
24. Produce at least 40 episodes of our new podcast Speak Up Storytelling.
Four new shows released in May. A total of 20 so far. We haven’t missed a week in 2019.
Listen to our latest here or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.
25. Perform stand up at least four times in 2019.
I’ve hit a bit of a snag in terms of this goal. The open mic night where I’d been performing was shut down thanks to stupid people behaving in stupid ways. I have an opportunity to perform in a local comedy showcase, which I will do, but I was in need of another open mic.
Thanks to you, dear readers, I have found a stage. I will take that stage when summer vacation begins.
26. Develop and teach a Storytelling Master Class, in which participants have an opportunity to tell at least two stories over the course of the day or tell a story and then retell it based on feedback.
Done! Scheduled for June 1. Today!
27. Pitch at least three stories to This American Life.
No progress.
28. Pitch myself to Marc Maron’s WTF podcast at least three times.
I wrote to Marc early in January, asking for him to consider me as a guest.
No response yet.
I’ve also officially requested that my publicist assist me in this endeavor.
If you know Marc Maron, or know someone who knows Marc or know someone who knows Marc’s producer or booker, please let me know. I know that Marc and I would have an amazing conversation, and it’s currently my biggest dream to get on his show.
NEW PROJECTS
29. Host a fundraiser for RIP Medical Debt, which would allow us to relieve the medical debt of struggling Americans for pennies on the dollar.
No progress.
30. Complete my Eagle Scout project.
No progress.
31. Print, hang, and/or display at least 25 prints, photos, or portraits in our home.
No progress.
32. Renovate our first floor bathroom.
Final design decisions have been made. Work will commence in July/August.
33. Organize our second floor bathroom.
No progress. Summertime project.
MISCELLANEOUS
34. Cook at least 12 good meals (averaging one per month) in 2019.
I made no meals in May.
Four down. Eight to go.
35. Plan a reunion of the Heavy Metal Playhouse.
No progress.
36. Ride my bike with my kids at least 25 times in 2019.
I rode my bike with Charlie one time in May for a total of five rides so far.
37. I will not comment, positively or negatively, about physical appearance of any person save my wife and children, in 2019 in an effort to reduce the focus on physical appearance in our culture overall.
Done! I did not comment on physical appearance with the exception of my wife and children in May and two other exceptions:
Crazy Hair Day: I considered this school spirit day akin to Halloween. When your student comes to school with an enormous afro woven with blinking Christmas lights, it’s okay to comment positively.
Macbeth: My students performed their annual Shakespearean play last week, and I put each of them in costume. During the costuming process, I commented positively on how they looked in order to ensure that they felt good about their costume.
38. Surprise Elysha at least six times in 2019.
Two surprises were set into motion in May, but neither has come to fruition yet.
Four surprises accomplished so far.
39. Replace the 12 ancient, energy-inefficient windows in our home with new windows that will keep the cold out and actually open in the warmer months.
No progress.
40. Clean the basement.
Incremental progress. Every week I throw away or organize a few items.
I’m planning to order a dumpster this summer.
41. Set a new personal best in golf.
I played four rounds of golf in May. I played poorly but showed flashes of promise. I actually drove the ball well for an entire round (which is to say I hit the ball straight but not terribly long).
I’ve decided to take lessons this summer on a regular basis.
42. Play poker at least six times in 2019.
A game was scheduled and canceled in May. That’s two cancelled games so far.
A new game is scheduled for June.
43. Spend at least six days with my best friend of more than 25 years.
Bengi and I spent a Sunday morning walking the track in his town back in March.
One down. Six to go. We have plans in June.
44. Post my progress in terms of these resolutions on this blog on the first day of every month.
Done.
