101 in 1001: Progress Report

I am a list-oriented person, I think it's plain to tell. When Ship Sharp announced she was going to tackle the infamous 101 in 1001 over at DayZero, I was inspired to do the same. 

And, lo -- it is time for a progress report.

In essence, this challenge is designed to help us avid procrastinators zero in on the plans and goals we'd like to achieve while giving us a concrete timeframe to complete them in. 1001 days = 2.75 years. I find it less stressful than the New Year's resolution since the allotted time is much longer. In addition, you can start a program of this nature at any time and still achieve the same results.

Here is the criteria as listed on the website: "Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on your part)."

Now, I found this idea left little room for flexibility. I mean, it's difficult to lock in to only a specific list of goals because, well... we change. We're always redefining ourselves and people can change quite significantly over 1001 days. I left that to my own discretion and I have in fact changed my original list more than once. Regardless, I have made some progress that I will now be sharing for the Blogiverse at large:

Start Date: January 4/2009

End Date: Sat. October 1/2011

• 1. Make a list of 101 things to do in 1001 days (Jan. 3/09): I know, it's a cheap start. Still, it's an accomplishment.
  
• 3. Quit from O.M. (March 12/09): I was actually laid off, but I left and that's what counts.
• 5. Have The Talk with immediate friends and family: Brother (July 30/09); Parents (Aug. 28/09); The Advocate (Oct. 4/09); Ship Sharp (Oct. 24/09)
• 14. Write 3 episodes of My Date With... (1/3): Wrote My Date With... Napoleon Bonaparte for The Advocate's return home (Aug. 17-18).
• 19. Finish posting all of my and Ship Sharp's scripts online (19/56): I've slacked off like mad and need to get moving on that one again.
• 31. Watch every episode from the new series of Doctor Who (59/59)
• 33. Watch every installment in the James Bond franchise (7/22): Live and Let Die, The Man with the Golden Gun, GoldenEye, Tomorrow Never Dies, The World Is Not Enough, Casino Royale, Quantum of Solace.
• 34. Pick out a random movie from the library each month to watch (3/33): Again, I need to do some serious catch-up. But, watching movies are always enjoyable. Anyway, the list of those: Autumn Spring (Jan./09), Valentin (Feb./09), Grave of the Fireflies (April/09)
• 30. Go to a taping of The Rick Mercer Report and hang out with "Uncle Rick" (Jan. 16/09): I even have photo evidence!
• 42. Learn to sew buttons back on to clothes (Feb. 8/09)
• 43. Become proficient with chopsticks: Used chopsticks in Japan without embarrassing myself... I'd say that's a pass.
• 50. Go to Toronto's Word on the Street (Sept. 27/09)
• 56. Visit Toronto's Green Living Show (April 25/09)
• 62. Travel to Japan to visit with Ms. Chantal (March 18/09 - April 2/09)
• 70. Work out 3 times/week: I've done pretty well with this, except while travelling or while I was ill.
• 73. Get your first medical physical done (Sept. 17/09)
• 75. Get glammed up once a month, just because: This one morphed into me doing it every weekend, so I've more than surpassed the initial goal.
• 78. Put yourself out there more to connect with people, even if it's just a simple message on Facebook: This one is harder to measure, but I think I've been doing well with it. I mean, I've gone out and done more things in this past year than I have in, well.... ever, quite possibly.
• 80. Get my first credit card and MAINTAIN REGULAY PAYMENTS (Nov. 2/09): I was turned down twice because I had no previous credit history. I eventually had to apply under a student account, but I got one. It's taken me just shy of a year to reach this goal. Crazy.
• 81. Get one o' dem high interest , tax free bank accounts: Tax free account (Feb. 16/09), High Interest Account (Feb. 16/09). Too bad the tax free account has only garnered $50 ALL YEAR.
• 82. Keep track of your spending (Excel Spreadsheet style): I am SO on top of it. I might start a new chart that breaks down spending a bit more clearly each month, though.
• 83. Clean out the clutter in my closet, dresser, desk drawers (Oct./09)
• 85. Go through the old school binders and decide what's being kept and what's being tossed (Oct./09)

... Hmm, none too shabby. Still have some areas to work on and I need to give the list another update. There are a bunch of items that are no longer relevant and need to be removed in order to make way for new goals.

Cheers for progress!