I haven’t been much for resolutions, because I don’t much like oaths, because I kind of like to keep my word. It keeps coming back, I think, to one of those Daddy-traumas I haven’t gotten over (I talk about this a lot, but quickly: in third/fourth grade, I tell my pop that I’m gonna be a writer, and he looks at me sadly and says, “a writer writes.” Single-Digit Jon learns the lesson that oaths without actions behind them are empty – and thus, perhaps, he is empty, too [aw…]).
But in a year like this, it seems like a good time to check in on accomplishments, because I think it’s been pretty keen. Outside of the stage persona, I’m not one to toot my own horn, but this year hasn’t been bad:
Wrote more poetry, probably, than any other single year (still didn’t beat my single month output of April, 2009, but that’ll be tough to top).

• Lost close to fifty pounds.
• Solo trip to Belize.
• Voyage to motherfucking Rome!
• New career direction (…maybe…?).
• Cleaning room (bigger deal than you’d think – really).
• Just learned basic audio stuff – and started hosting an open mic again!
• Experimenting with art.

I’m trying things I haven’t done in a while. I’m growing up in ways that’s pretty shameful for someone my age. I’m becoming a big boy!
It’s not bad. I think I might actually be uncovering the power of optimism.
It’s been, I think a good year. Maybe next year’ll be better. It’s clear there’re challenges to come, and I hope I’m up for ’em, but so long as I continue to contract words unnecessarily, I’m sure I’ll be all right.

Maybe that’s the only resolution I need…