Look, if The Tony Awards, The Olympics, and Coachella are postponed, then so is April Fools’.

Sorry to disappoint, but I don’t think anyone wants to be tricked this year.  We’re just not in the mood.

And hey, I’m even more bummed than you are.  Every FEBRUARY a reminder goes off in my “Toodledo” to-do app to start thinking of a new “gotcha” for all of you blog readers.   I’ve done everything from “I’m crowdfunding a new Broadway theater,” to “Meryl Streep is appearing on my podcast,” to my favorite . . . “I’m starring in a one-man show about Michael Dukakis.”

And just none of that seems right during this strange time.

So here are three things you can do instead of April Fools.

1. Do what this phone company wanted you to do.

There’s an old AT&T commercial that was probably one of their most successful in the company’s history.  The now very ironic lyrics of the jingle were, “Reach out, reach out and touch someone.”  Of course, we can’t do that right now.  But that was also the whole point of the commercial for the phone giant.  If you can’t physically be with another person, reach out anyway.  Check-in with a friend.  And instead of playing a prank, say those magic words, “What can I do to help you?”  What’s amazing about those seven words is that not only could you actually help someone, but give it some time, and watch how this simple action will bounce back and end up helping you when you need it the most.

2. Do what your mom taught you to do.

This is big in my house right now, as my wife, aka Super Mommy, has been working hard to teach our 2-year-old those two magic words . . . “Thank you.”It’s hard to find things to be grateful for when faced with the types of challenges we are all facing right now.  We’re concerned about our health, the health of our loved ones, the economy, our own personal economy.  That’s a @#$% ton.  But take a moment today to spend the time you might have spent coming up with an April Fools’ joke to find something to be grateful for.  Maybe it’s that you are healthy.  Maybe it’s that you realize how lucky you are to have your spouse or partner.  Or maybe it’s that you get to spend so much more time with your 2-year old than you would if you were at the office.  🙂

3. Do something . . . for yourself.

There will be two kinds of people when this is all over.  People who are the same as when it began and people who are stronger, smarter and ready for the new challenges that emerging from our caves will bring.  If you are reading this blog, then I’d bet the capitalization of Spiderman that you’re part of the latter.  So, do something to challenge yourself to improve some area of your life, and start today.

See, it’s the first of the month.  A perfect time to start a 30 Day Challenge.  Of any kind.  Sure, I’m partial to our 30 Day Script Challenge which is for any of you out there who always wanted to get an idea out of your head and onto a page (and this one will make that happen in 30 days).

But you can challenge yourself to do anything in the next 30 days . . . learn Spanish, get your real estate license, or if you’re like me . . . take a 30 Day Fitness Challenge!  (Yes, that grunting at 5 AM coming from the Upper West Side is me doing burpees).

And if you commit to something for 30 Days (which anyone can do), you’ll be on the road to creating a habit, which could last a lifetime.

Need some help?  Just Google “30 Day XXXXXX Challenge” for whatever it is you want to do, and I bet you find a road map for your next 30 days.

We’ve got the time, right?  What do you have to lose?  Now, what do you have to gain???

Doing something to improve yourself will not only keep your mind sharp, as we’re dulled by seeing the same surroundings every day, but you’ll end up a part of the population that comes out of this and says, “Ok, I’m @#$ing ready.  Let’s get at it.”

And that’s no April Fools’.

You’ve got 30 days.  GO!  (And yeah, if you’ve ever thought about writing something, do this challenge, for sure.)

– – – – –

Last night on our live stream we featured Broadway Producer, Author, Historian, Jennifer Tepper!  Click here to watch the replay and hear her talk about . . .

• Being on the set of the Tick, Tick, Boom! movie with Lin-Manuel Miranda when she realized this virus thing was real.
• How she’s using this time to write the next volume of her successful book series.
• What she thinks is the most underrated Broadway musical of all time.

And tonight at 8 PM EDT, star of stage and screen, the Tony Award-winning actor, Alan Cumming!  Click here to get a reminder to tune in!