How It Started…
Now that I am a couple of weeks into my 50th year, I thought it would be worthwhile to take a moment and assess how my “50 at 50” tasks are coming along. Partially to get a sense of how much of an issue some of these things might be, but also as a way to optimize my operations a bit more. With the initial rush of doing something as daring and unconventional as what amounts to as a glorified mini-Bucket list, that first hit of adrenaline has worn off and the really hard work still lays ahead.
And to be honest, at first I thought it might be easier than anticipated, as within the first weekend, I was chalking up wins like the Mighty Ducks in their animated series.
When this officially started, my parents were in town, so we dined out at a number of different locations, visited the lighthouse in Montauk, and even stopped by a winery; just piling up checkmarks for number 10 “Visit 50 New Locations.” I tried out a few new drinks (number 5: “Have 50 Different New Beverages”), took some photos that I can clean up nicely (number 4: “Take 50 Photos I Could See Submitting to a Gallery”), got hugs from Gracie (number 20: “Get 50 Big Hugs From Gracie”), kisses from May (number 50: “Kiss May 50 times”), as well as hitting my walking steps (number 48: “Walk 10,000 steps 50 times”).
Alas, that was largely because of my birthday celebration and hosting my parents. After they left, well, the partying just dried up. You might not think that my folks are fusion reactors of excitement, and, well, you would be right, but they still lead a far more exciting and interesting life than I do.
Afterward, I settled into the rest of the week, and the first big takeaway hit me, which is that I really don’t do much during a “normal” week. Oh sure, I was still notching up entries on the list, but nothing like the waterfall of completions I experienced out of the gate. I was still getting in days with 10,000 steps and hugs from Gracie, but even the May kisses dropped off as I kept falling asleep while watching “Father Brown.”
Although, each episode helps my cause (number 24: “Watch 50 New TV Episodes With May”), so I am not complaining too much about that.
Ironically, another issue I have started to run across is actually keeping track of times when I do earn a checkmark, only to forget about it, or not even realize it. Yesterday, Gracie ever so graciously gave me her fruit juice drink box that she had gotten at her class party, because, “I know you’re trying to be healthy Daddy.” Well, today for lunch I went ahead and drank it (and it tasted exactly as I thought it would; drink box technology has not advanced much in the past 40 years, it seems) but I didn’t realize until later that it totally counted for having new beverages. Problem was, I couldn’t properly write it down because I never looked at the actual name.
I’m sure the landscapers outside were curious as to why I was digging furiously through the kitchen trash, crying out in triumph as I withdrew a crumbled drink box like Indiana Jones looting a holy relic.
Maybe I should have invited them to subscribe? Oh well.
One would think that I have plenty of time to devote to the many elements of the list, but this is sadly not the case. First of all, I am still looking for work, and some days this turns into a slow, soul-crushing grind which dampens my enthusiasm for doing anything else aside from sulking.
Secondly, I have been (happily) doing some part time work for a gaming company that is all volunteer-based. This translates to a couple of hours each day, and in general has a number of benefits: it’s letting me keep my game design and project management skills sharp, I have had a chance to flex my storyboarding muscles for a teaser trailer, and it’s a project where I don’t have to do the programming, so things are actually getting done. With any luck, I’ll have some more news to share on that front by the end of summer.
While I can’t say for sure, I feel like this work with the game studio is reawakening my producer instincts. Hence, I am now paying more attention to the list from a proactive viewpoint, and am actually “project managing” the thing. I am looking ahead at holidays to celebrate, trips that have been booked, and even places I can sneak into to plant trees. Who knows? By this time next month, I might even have a fully annotated spreadsheet filled out, complete with milestones, task owners, and priorities.
And wouldn’t that look spiffy in an interview?