PERSONAL FITNESS
1. Don’t die.
My wife, Elysha, contracted COVID-19 in January after being exposed at school. I was in contact with her for at least three days after being exposed before she tested positive and isolated herself.
Miraculously, I never became infected, nor did our children. I tested negative 6 times during the 10 days following Elysha’s positive result. I am still healthy and feeling fine.
Elysha is thankfully doing well and nearly recovered. I may have recovered just as quickly had I become infected.
Maybe not.
“Don’t die” is a lot more challenging these days.
On a positive note, my yearly physical indicated that not only are my cholesterol levels still good, but they are improved compared to last year. My calcium scoring – a test to determine the amount of potential blockage on the walls of my arteries – was 0.
The best possible score.
2. Lose 20 pounds.
One pound lost in January. Our Nordictrack exercise bike broke and is awaiting parts, and since I won’t go to the gym during a pandemic and I’ve only been able to ride my bike a handful of times in January due to the cold and snow, I’m stuck without many cardio options.
It’s killing me.
3. Do at least 100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, and 3 one-minute planks for five days a week.
Done.
In fact, I did push ups, sit ups, and planks on 30 of the 31 days of January to compensate for the loss of the bike.
4. Cycle for at least 5 days every week.
I was only able to ride my bike for a total of 6 days in January while waiting for parts for our Nordictrack.
Those were cold, unpleasant rides.
5. Set a new personal best in golf.
No golf played. Golf courses in Connecticut remain closed for the winter.
WRITING CAREER
6. Complete my seventh novel before the end of 2021.
Progress continues. For the first time, I allowed Elysha to read a chapter of the new book. She liked it.
7. Complete “Someday is Today” before the end of 2021.
Progress commenced in January. I’m working from a book proposal, which helps a lot.
8. Complete “Storyworthy 2” before the end of 2021.
I sent the nearly completed version of this book to my agent for her review. I await word on her thoughts.
9. Write/complete at least three new picture books, including one with a female, non-white protagonist, and one protagonist who is not neurotypical.
No progress.
10. Write 40,000 words of a memoir.
No progress.
11. Write a new screenplay.
No progress.
12. Write a solo show.
I met with my team of brilliant collaborators in January and received notes and feedback on the show so far. I’m in the process of revising and expanding and will schedule a meeting with them for later in February or early March.
13. Write a musical.
Kaia and I met via Zoom to outline the the show and assign tasks. Work continues.
14. Submit at least five Op-Ed pieces to The New York Times for consideration.
No progress.
15. Submit one or more short stories to at least three publishing outlets.
No progress.
16. Select two behaviors that I am opposed to and adopt them for one week, then write about my experiences on the blog.
No progress. I still need to write about my experiences with ASMR and my reading of 50 Shades of Gray from last year.
If you have suggestions on something I should try or adopt, please let me know.
17. Increase my newsletter subscriber base to 6,000 (from 4,497).
I added 99 subscribers in January for a total of 4,596. If I repeat those results every month, I will hit my goal by the end of the year.
If you’d like to sign up for my newsletter, you can do so here:
18. Send a newsletter to readers at least 25 times (every other week).
Two newsletters sent in January. On pace to hit my goal.
19. Write at least six letters to my father.
I’m in the process of responding to my father’s recent letter, and I have ordered photos to send to him as well. It will be mailed later this week.
20. Write 100 letters in 2021.
One letter written in January. Not a great start.
21. Convert 365 Days of Elysha into a book.
No progress.
22. Complete and release my limited episode podcast on “Twenty-One Truths About Love.”
The paperback of “Twenty-one Truths About Love” publishes this month. The podcast, nearly complete, will drop at that time, too.
STORYTELLING/SPEAKING CAREER
23. Produce a total of 6 Speak Up storytelling events.
Elysha and I have virtual shows scheduled for February 13 and March 20.
24. Pitch myself to at least 3 upcoming TEDx events with the hopes of being accepted by one.
No progress.
25. Pitch myself to Master Class at least three times in 2021.
No progress.
26. Attend at least 5 Moth events with the intention of telling a story.
Moth StorySLAMs have been on pause until February.
27. Win at least one Moth StorySLAM.
Moth StorySLAMs have been on pause until February.
28. Win a Moth GrandSLAM.
I have several Moth StorySLAM victories “in the bank” that would gain me access to a Moth GrandSLAM, but the pandemic has put these events on hold. Awaiting word of when I will be able to compete again.
29. Produce at least 25 episodes of our podcast Speak Up Storytelling.
Three episodes produced and dropped in January. We are now ahead of schedule.
30. Perform stand-up at least 3 times in 2021.
No progress.
31. Pitch at least three stories to This American Life.
No progress.
32. Pitch myself to Marc Maron’s WTF podcast at least three times.
My publicist is pitching me to Maron’s producer in hopes of getting me on for the paperback release of “Twenty-one Truths About Love.”
33. Produce at least 12 new videos for my YouTube channel in January.
No progress.
34. Explore a means of producing my storytelling instruction asynchronously for an online platform.
I’m currently reviewing a proposal from an company that wants to partner with me in creating asynchronous content for my storytelling instruction. I think I may have found the right people with whom to work. I’m excited.
HOME
35. Print, hang, and/or display at least 25 prints, photos, or portraits in our home.
We have hired a professional to paint our living room, hallway, and staircase in February. She will also be assisting Elysha on hanging our photos and prints.
36. Assemble an emergency preparedness kit.
I purchased survival straws that make contaminated water safe to drink in January.
I still have a long way to go.
37. Clear the basement.
No progress.
FAMILY/FRIENDS
38. Call brother or sister once per week.
I exchanged texts with both siblings but did not call either one in January.
39. Take at least one photo of my children every day.
Done. Two weeks of quarantine helped.
40. Take at least one photo with Elysha and myself each week.
No photos taken of Elysha and myself in January. In my defense, she was isolated in the bedroom for 10 days, so my access was limited for a third of the month.
41. Plan a reunion of the Heavy Metal Playhouse.
No progress.
42. I will not comment, positively or negatively, about physical appearance of any person save my wife and children, in 2021 in an effort to reduce the focus on physical appearance in our culture overall.
Done, I think.
I noted that the teeth of the Slytherin quidditch captain in the film Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone made him look especially evil, but does commenting on the appearance of a fictional character in a film count, especially when its done as a comment on the storytelling?
I’m not sure.
Still, best avoid all of that nonsense and focus on what really matters.
43. Surprise Elysha at least six times in 2021.
I surprised Elysha once in January by sending flowers to her while at work on her birthday. They were reportedly some of the best flowers she has ever received.
44. Play poker at least six times in 2021.
No progress.
45. Spend at least six days with my best friend of more than 30 years.
No progress.
NEW PROJECTS
46. Play music in class.
Success. I have introduced my students to several specific songs in January, including those that mention their names in the titles:
“Proud Mary” and “London Calling.”
We’ve also played “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You” several times when I find students staring at me instead of working, and my students have arrived at school every morning to Elvis Presley.
To my students’ credit, many of them are enjoying the music and keeping an open mind.
When I return from quarantine on Friday, we are moving onto Springsteen.
47. Learn to play the piano by practicing at least three times a week.
Done. I’m currently learning to play with my right hand. A lot of the lessons center on the reading of music, which I can already do, so progress has been solid so far.
48. Convert our wedding video to a transferable format.
Efforts were made. Progress was zilch. I’m going to need a professional of some kind to assist.
Know anyone? Or a company that specializes in this sort of thing?
49. Memorize 5 new poems.
I’m currently memorizing “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost. Admittedly I knew more than half of it already, but I’m locking down the whole thing now.
50. Write to at least 3 colleges about why they should hire me.
No progress.
51. Understand Instagram better.
No progress.
52. Complete my Eagle Scout project.
No progress.
53. Post my progress in terms of these resolutions on this blog and social media on the first day of every month.
Done.
