Mark Watson the Comedian

The other night I asked everyone to update their progress on the TYSIC mini-site, which tracks everyone’s achievements in their self-imposed Ten Year Self-Improvement Challenges. It would have taken me around six years, with my current workload, to sift through everything that’s there, but luckily Kate Webster has kindly produced a summary.

The below should take in everything anyone has written on the site since the start of June. The individual achievements are too numerous to mention, but read all together, they provide a lot of cheering evidence that lots of us are indeed Improving Ourselves. If you’ve not really done anything, don’t be discouraged – remember there is a bloody long way to go yet, this thing goes on till 2020, or until I die – but use this as an incentive to get cracking. There are about seventy people mentioned in this update along, which is amazing.

As ever, having cut and pasted this across from Kate’s document, I don’t know if any or all of the links will work. But if not, you can always go to the TYSIC site itself and look up people yourself. And if you’re new to this, it is – of course – never too late. All you have to do is set yourself a challenge or challenges to be attempted over the next 10 years (9.5 now, actually), publicly declare your intentions, and get to it, remembering to post your progress periodically on the site.

Goodluckkeepgoingwelldonedon’tgiveup! I’ll be posting my own report in the next few days.

PS I’m healthier. Not perfect. But better. Thanks again for your concern.

 

New challenges set

 

lora has set herself a new goal of “attending the Edinburgh Festival for a substantial length of time” [excellent goal! Ed]. She’s also made some progress on gig interviews and posting gig pictures, and is halfway to attending all of her favourite band’s tour dates.

 

RebeccaJPayne has added a new TYSIC of concentrating on the things that matter and make her happy, and has also had her story “Hollow Man” performed (you can hear it here: www.liarsleague.typepad.com).

 

No progress at present – it’s a marathon people, not a sprint!

 

Chris (who you may remember from Mark’s blog, when he asked TYSIC-ers to help him set a goal) says “So; achieved nothing but happy as a bean in a can. Still working towards undefined goal. Doing very well too. Happy days”

 

EliseCz may not be any closer to getting a book published, but heck she’s been doing other things! Having quit her job in the last month, she’s now moving to New Zealand.

 

JamieOS has posted a blank update, which I think probably means no progress. But he proffers this thought “when you meet someone who’s good at what they do and concerned about getting it right, and even puts in a little extra effort and thought… treasure them.”

 

LauraB still has nine years and six months to go on her “Visit every continent by 2020 challenge” – help cheer her on!

 

Laura has no new progress to report since passing her driving test, but is the proud owner of one of our more unusual TYSICs; beating ketchup phobia.

 

Progress

 

Ally has made progress on three out of four TYSIC goals, with a 65-70% average mark in her degree, earning money working for her dad’s company and having started planning her novel. Exciting!

 

Rachel/Pandora is doing good things, including running to help a guy who got knocked off his motorbike, and checking the NHS Jobs site every ten minutes in the cause of finding work as a physiotherapist. She also has a rockin’ picture of herself in a Dalek costume.

 

NeeraC is running every day and is so organised that she‘s super organised, then forgets that she’s organised and does it all again. Heck.

 

JamesWalkerMan has improved his confidence to the point where he can not only talk to comedians he admires, but also compliment flyerers – nice work James! He’s also starting a college course soon to improve his writing.

 

Emily has made a watch for her crafty challenge, is making progress on eating normally, and starts back at uni soon.

 

Kate B has started smiling and laughing more, which has made her happier. Excellent. And she’s almost mastered the art of giving compliments.

 

Hannah has nearly convinced her parents to buy her a piano – step 1 in learning to play it. And got an A* in French.

 

Linsey’s feeling so confident that she played harmonica on stage at a sold-out Frank Turner gig and has written a festival review that’s being published online.

 

AdeleD is half-way to her weight-loss TYSIC and has done the Race for Life. She’s also now engaged – congratulations to Adele and fiancée Roger.

 

kateweb has had one play on at the Camden Fringe, extracts from another performed by Comedians Theatre Company and joined the BHA choir.

 

howlie made great TYSIC progress in Edinburgh – met strangers, talked to new people and to people she admires and generally felt good.

 

Sarah’s making progress on her “read 50 books this year” challenge and working towards her Masters.

 

AdamF has written a new blog (www.hoodiesforgoalposts.blogspot.com) and plans to blog twice a week when uni starts.

 

DanWoodrow has booked tickets to see Stephen Fry in September – a great first step towards getting on first name terms with him! And he’ll be staying in touch with friends from his old job by seeing them at a Tim Minchin gig.

 

OJTS has tickets booked for Josh Thomas and Tim Minchin, progressing towards her 100 shows in 10 years TYSIC. She’s also hoping to see Mark next year in Perth; Where’s Watson? points to be scored….

 

Sue(DIB) has built up her confidence loads, including belly-dancing on stage this weekend (in a red, sparkly costume!). 

 

GooseCG has got all the data for her degree dissertation and is scouting for jobs in zoology.

 

Sarah is an officially published author, with 7 pages in the Journal of Neuroscience.

 

Nic(@nwoolhouseuk) has been going to Skeptics in the Pub every month, thinking critically about it, and blogging.

 

Louise is less nervous around boys, got a hug from her celebrity crush and got 70% in her law moot and presentations; sounding pretty confident!

 

Lindsay doesn’t yet have a dog, but has recently acquired a husband who likes them and arranged an “outstanding” secret honeymoon.

 

Steph has her driving test next month (fingers crossed…) and may very soon be living alone at university. She’s also blogged her bit of the iPod handover chain: http://stephdoestysic.blogspot.com/2010/07/mp3-challenge-handover-nhm.html

 

Jonessh attended the Watsonian picnic in the spirit of taking risks and trying new things.

 

MusicalLottie has lead three caving sessions by herself, and has got out and about with kite flying, archery and visiting Whipsnade Zoo.

 

Stusteph is planning to enter “So you think you’re funny” next year, has learned a couple of songs on guitar and “Somewhere over the rainbow” on ukulele.

 

JayFreeman’s blog had its most successful day in 6 months after someone shared a piece he wrote – “Felt honoured and still do”.

 

<marie> is having a baby, due in January; congratulations! She hasn’t had a cigarette in over 6 weeks (at the end of June – hopefully longer by now….) and got a good mark for her last uni presentation.

 

jmlane’s been accepted on a Sustainable Business MSc and has also been keeping a blog: http://jmwlane.wordpress.com

 

Martina got two high distinctions in her first semester of a Masters in Applied Linguistics and has re-worked her CV “for added awesomeness.”

 

Becci not only managed to cycle without vomiting, but has finished the second year of her degree and is looking for a job.

 

Steph got straight As, which should help her get into medical school, and is aiming to learn enough PHP to make a form for her gap year website.

 

Doomed1 (Beth) has learned to love scallops, but hasn’t yet found the new job that will mean she can afford a goat/llama/reptile.

 

LizzieEtc has spent some time in a press office and loved it, and has had a visit from her Italian exchange partner.

 

Marbles is doing well with the jogging and working on her PhD.

 

tothesky is gaining confidence (having talked to people she hasn’t talked to before, and even asked strangers for directions) and is happier now than she was last year.

 

cymruangel is currently plotting her road trip from Niagara Falls to Boston for her travel TYSIC and has lined up a friend to teach her how to sew and knit.

 

Rachael has been commenting on the blog every day and has another inch of hair to grow before she can send it to Locks of Love.

 

SER has appeared in a play that he co-wrote, written an alternative World Cup song and done a bike ride for Children in Distress.

 

overtiredmum has now done two 45 minute runs and discovered her new trainers aren’t waterproof.

 

hellie has done a summer course at the drama school she wants to go to, and finished her first book of flute theory.

 

Louisel has become more confident and had a proper conversation with a real French person in French! She also got 7 A*s and 4 As at GCSE and is off to Wales.

 

Retrograde can now play the ukulele (as a first step to playing the guitar).

 

Lauren has 40,000 words of a novel, did her first gig for a while in July and is still going with her weekly blog: http://www.laurenbrownblog.blogspot.com

 

chrissy is in her last week of full-time work before starting a midwifery course.

 

Madelaine is learning the guitar, volunteering for the Brisbane Writers’ Festival and is almost at the end of the school year.

 

max started his PhD in June, is keeping his blog up to date and running 5K/rowing 3K every day to get fit for cycling round Iceland.

 

Ems will be running the Scottish Half Marathon in May, to prepare for her trek in Nepal, and did two 5 ½ mile runs this week.

 

issey passed all her exams and has applied for a photography course.         

 

Phill is “getting there” with his guitar playing and now has full control of his little finger.

 

TomBeasley got good AS levels that bode well for next year, has a novel written but not yet sent anywhere and thinks he may have found love. Aw……

 

annawaits has got off to a cracking start on seeing live sport, by watching Doncaster Rovers v Bristol City with her dad on Saturday 14^th Aug – “obviously our TYSIC leader’s connection with the away team made it all the more a ‘neat’ choice.”

 

Cathy has had her first “Pedal Ready” cycling lesson and can survive a level 3 roundabout. She’s also eaten her first ever horizon-broadening pasty and is keeping in touch with school friends.

 

People looking for input

 

deborahF has a bit too much opportunity to practice right accepting change right now, having been made redundant. She’s applying for jobs and has already had an interview, but would like advice on whether to hold out for a job that pays the same as her old one or take something lower-paid.

 

Laurs has been eating more healthily and walking more. She’s giving up smoking next week and would love some support….

 

Rachel Winter is soooo close to finishing the piece she’s writing and would like help changing her profile photo (mods?).

 

Amy now has a car (which she’d like help naming), has discovered a hidden talent for reversing and opened a new online shop.

 

Deanna might be getting her own radio show, and would love suggestions of non-mainstream music to play! She’s also discovered the joy of less coffee and more sleep.

 

Complete challenges – or TYSICC (Ten Year Self Improvement Challenges Completed)

 

iRachey has polished off two TYSICCs, having gone to Croatia with school and not argued with annoying people AND finished her GCSEs with 8A*s and 5As (woo!). She’s also enrolled for college and is trying to be optimistic.

 

Katy has completed her first challenge by posting her list of things to do before she’s 30. She’s also looking for tattoo ideas – any bright thoughts?

 

Jamie/James got a first in his Music degree; well done that man. He’s also challenged Tim Minchin to a game of croquet.

 

Simon has finished his running the length of the Central Line TYSIC and been featured on BBC Radio Essex! You can hear it here: http://tuberunner.blogspot.com/2010/07/hello-essex.html

 

Tara has achieved her finding a job TYSIC and also has a first in her drama essay.

 

Shell has (I believe) completed her challenge to understand the off-side rule before England go out of the World Cup, and has also blogged about it: http://danceswithwonder.blogspot.com/2010/06/footballsinesserisationismiciousingityi_23.html

 

Ivan (@IvanBrett) has a four-book deal for his children’s books – first comes out in May – still has a girlfriend and has read 12 of his 300 novel goal. 

 

Someone has finished her degree (and got through the graduation ceremony) and started on the way to doing another. She also has a probationary job starting next week.