What a wonderful year. What an amazing, highlight, incredible year.
I’m so grateful to be surrounded by love and friends and support. Thank you. Thank you everyone.
Each of the last two years, I’ve done a year-in-review. It’s meant to take stock of the things I’ve done over the last 365 days or so, evaluate how my New Year Resolutions went, and set new intentions for my next journey around the sun.
Each year, I’ve been increasingly proud of my accomplishments, increasingly grateful for the support and love that I’m surrounded by, increasingly moving myself towards the person that I want to become.
This time was no different, and due to the set up from the last two, has shown itself to be quite a highlight year. From the Half Iron to the CPRT BBQ, from the Open Mics to hiking the Salcantay trail, from Dirtybird and TV on the Radio to the repeated farm work and revitalizing the school in Harlem, I’ve had some of the most broad and authentic experiences of my life. And that really says something, as I look over the years past and see where I’ve come from.
I’ve had some awesome travel experiences, in Colorado, San Fran, Peru, Philly, NOLA.
I’ve done outstanding things, hosting 4 open mics, completing a Half-Ironman and learning the laser cutter at resistor.
I’ve kept strong commitments to working out and volunteering and writing.
Some highlights! The Half Iron was life and death. The failure to get my legs moving at all, the absolute physical break of my body and mind, and the triumphant of overcoming repeated surrender. I learned an important lesson in driving to a long-term commitment. I’ve picked up the triple skill set of biking, running, and swimming which has changed my ability to get around the city and take care of my body. I’ve had fun training again, working regularly towards a goal. And I sincerely enjoy the comradery and friendship that comes from all the crazy ironman people.
But I also had to come to terms with my limitations, and how I have to recalibrate what I can do. I will not make a full Iron in 5 years from my graduation date, a promise I had at the conclusion of my senior championship meet. I won’t make it until 7 or 8.
That’s fine. I found something worthy of accomplishment and drive. I love training and getting better at racing. I’m excited to have these lifelong commitments to a ridiculous level of elite racing. I also want to add Spartans.
I will be doing the Boulder Ironman in my lifetime, a challenging and mountainous course at altitude. This will not only get myself back in Boulder, a city I love [S/O Joe Papa who promised me a beer upon completing] but also being better at Irons. Meanwhile, I will be yoga-ing and tri-ing and Spartan-ing during and coming back from my travels.
Peru was unbelievable. Travel is my best self. I am so proud and glad I hiked all that distance, set up my own shelters, communed with the gods, and vibe-d with locals. I am excited to set off on my next great adventure, and confident I will have the skills to overcome any obstacles and seize any opportunities in my journey.
I’ve been on track to my saving goals, even as the last month or two have been pretty bad. I will keep the remaining months in the city travel-less [outside of Philly. Maybe a ski trip.] and generally be frugal. I think 15k will be enough, but I’d like to be closer to 18 or 19 or 20 if I can, for extra fun while traveling. And maybe some when I get back. Plus, now I’ve committed to Friendship 2.0 and DBCO which is only more monies.
Additionally, Chinese Visas. Also, Indonesia if I need too. Plus talk to the fam. I should go to the embassy. Fill out some papers.
Four Open Mics. F O U R. From nothing! A vision I hadn’t seen quite like this in the beginning has truly opened up into bigger and better than I thought, but also not quite what I imagined. I think that’s an amazing part of building things. The end result is never quite your ideal, because perfectionism. But in contrast, it morphs and adapts to the situations around it. That flexibility is a reflection of your persistence in the face of challenges, and that’s awesome.
So now it exists in the world. Beautiful and weird as it is, I run an Open Mic. It’s fun, it keeps growing, I am so proud of everyone and in love with the crowd that I can only be grateful and excited. The next one is in Philly, nice and easy. The next two will follow the old patterns. I want to at least get 1 great gift off, for more people, as memorabilia. A necklace. A ring made of wood, varnished and polyurethane. Have the last one be a going away party. And hopefully give it away, and have it continue to be a thing. Who knows.
The blog has been doing well too. I have quite a collection of articles. Viewership is a little down, I don’t think it’s to the quality of the work, but maybe the broad range is affecting how many readers are repeat readers. [Huge thank you to anyone who is reading, I sincerely appreciate you.] That hopefully will even out when I’m travel writing, as the thread connecting most of the essays will be travel oriented. 50 posts this year! That definitely matches my resolution last year! Great success!
I’ve been to a lot of shows now. Festivals. Music acts of all kinds. I’m learning from them, all sorts of things. Friendship is quite the last hurrah for the foreseeable future. [and it was incredible. They’ll be plenty of shows between now and leaving to continue my relationships with the friends I made on the boat. I was deeply reminded what I value, the openness and expression, the relationships and experiences, finding love in acceptance and fun in freedom]. I’m sure I’ll find shows and things abroad but I’m not sure I want commit as hard to being in this scene for a bit. Just to focus on the travel. Also, out of time. And money. DBCO West is gunna be great tho. Plus the extra week in Tahoe with Steve and Sierra. FS 2.0. Excited!
Volunteering, nice overaccomplishment! 10! That’s almost 1 a month, more than I asked last year which was 2 a quarter. I also raised money for charities, like Prostate Cancer again. And I’ll be doing more for Wigs for Kids with the hair donation and the Indiegogo. So overall, way to make outsized impact. I would like to do more in my local communities, as I’m bouncing around a lot, but for next year, just keep focusing on about 1 a month. Add a dog walk or two. For mental health. During travel, volunteer often.
I’ve had starkly similar experience with women. Like they are confounding and weird and I don’t get it, but at least I’ve got a little more game. So, ya know, baby steps. I still wish I had some sort of longer form relationship, but I’m occupied doing the work for all my shit, so y’all just keep doing your thing. Hopeful!
Peter and I had a discussion, if I were not attractive and outgoing, I’d never get laid. Because women play hard, and I’m frankly terrible at…well, I don’t even know what it is. Making yourself look desirable? I guess I’ve spent years unwinding a façade to become someone I love. And I’m sort of over trying to reinstate that just for female companionship that would feel fake anyway.
I know I’m great, I know I’m going to be hella successful, and I know I can build and maintain excellent habits for whatever I pursue.
Finally, a congratulations on being better at managing my mental health challenges. I had like 7 bad days all told, and I was able to find good routines and balance in chores, workouts, meditation, and relaxing to help. Reaching out to friends was also great, shout out Justin for the phone call on Jake’s birthday. Really important to lean on your support systems.
This next year is going to be a crazy one. I’m super excited for it. The next few months, from Jan to April, all savings, all yoga, all Open Mic, all good habits, prepping for the send-off day.
And then I’ll probably come back to this, figure what I want to focus and work on, and build myself into the person I want to be.
I will do some more travel prep. Itineraries. Visas. Packing plans. Structured writing, video, pictures. Workout schedules. Get with the family. I need to make sure that I am structured enough that I can make beautiful things from the experiences that I will have. It’s to enhance my creative side, up my clout, and aim at finding ways to break the system.
Cheers everyone! Happy 2018, happier 2019! I’ve had lots of changes and growth to get me to here; I look forward to the changes and growth that will get me to my next step. I am grateful for all your friendships, and I’m highly anticipating the things you do in the new year! Hug your family. Love yourself. Have a mug of tea! Be safe!