Resolution update: July 2021

PERSONAL FITNESS

1. Don’t die.

Definitely alive. I had some wax removed from my ears yesterday (an annoyingly regular occurrence) and it turns out that I also have a hernia that requires surgery.

But definitely still alive and well.

2. Lose 20 pounds.

Lost 0 pounds in July. Shocking considering how much biking and swimming I’m doing.

Stupid ice cream.

Still down 10 pounds in 2021.

3. Do at least 100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, and 3 one-minute planks for five days a week.

Done, but no more until post-surgery.

4. Cycle for at least 5 days every week.

Done! 28 days spent cycling in July. A total of 8 rides IRL and 20 rides on the NordicTrack.

5. Set a new personal best in golf.

I tied by best round ever back in June with a 9-over-par 45 for 9 holes.

I also managed to shoot a 5-over-par 36 on a par 31 executive course. By far a personal best for that course.

Still looking to set a new personal best on a regulation course.

I have new clubs. Maybe that will make the difference.

WRITING CAREER

6. Complete my seventh novel before the end of 2021.

Progress continues on this novel, but there is a twist:

I wrote a memoir years ago about a summer spent playing golf, and this may be the next book we try to launch into the world, so I may need to put aside the novel for a time and focus on getting my memoir into shape.

Nevertheless, writing continues.

7. Complete Someday is Today before the end of 2021. 

Progress continues. Due THIS MONTH!

8. Complete Storyworthy 2 before the end of 2021.

DONE! I sent the first draft of this book (it might be two books) to my agent for her review. Given that I finished another book on storytelling before the book I have under contract, I may need to wait a bit before we sell Storyworthy 2, but it looks promising.

9. Write/complete at least three new picture books, including one with a female, non-white protagonist, and one protagonist who is not neurotypical.

I’ve begun writing my first and second picture books of 2021. One is nearly finished. The other is outlined. Excited about both. I plan to continue the work once the school year begins.

10. Write 40,000 words of a memoir.

Progress! Nearly 10,000 words written! Almost 1,000 more in June.

11. Write a new screenplay.

Progress! I have a writing partner who is working on the first pass of The Other Mother, then I will parachute in and do a pass of my own.

12. Write a solo show.

Work continues in earnest. I haven’t met with my collaborators since March, but it’s simply because I’m making solid progress and want to wait until I stall out to meet with them.

I’m also consumed in finishing Someday is Today.

I did, however, review the show with a producer who offered a couple good notes and loves the idea.

13. Write a musical.

My partner, Kaia, and I have shifted away from our original idea to a new one, and work has begun with greater earnest. The original idea is still good, but this one is just as good or better. It’s also the topic of my new memoir, so there is some serious synergy between the two projects.

14. Submit at least five Op-Ed pieces to The New York Times for consideration.

Two pieces submitted and rejected by the New York Times. Two in total in 2021.

15. Submit one or more short stories to at least three publishing outlets.

No progress.

16. Select two behaviors that I am opposed to and adopt them for one week, then write about my experiences on the blog.

No progress.

I still need to write about my experiences with ASMR and my reading of 50 Shades of Gray from last year.

If you have suggestions on something I should try or adopt, please let me know.

17. Increase my newsletter subscriber base to 6,000 (from 4,497).

I added another 42 subscribers in June for a total of 4,864.

If you’d like to sign up for my newsletter, you can do so here:

18. Send a newsletter to readers at least 25 times (every other week). 

One newsletter sent in July.

A total of 14 newsletters sent so far in 2021.

Still on pace to hit my goal.

19. Write at least six letters to my father.

Two letters in total sent in 2021.

20. Write 100 letters in 2021.

A total of 10 letters written and sent in July. Former students, friends, colleagues, one place of business, and one multi-millionaire who I’ve never met whose home I admired.

The multi-millionaire actually wrote back.

A total of 58 so far in 2021. Almost on pace for 100.

21. Convert 365 Days of Elysha into a book.

I’ve passed this task onto my assistant, Kaia. Given that I have no eye for design, she will ultimately do a better job than I ever could.

22. Complete and release my limited episode podcast on “Twenty-One Truths About Love.”

DONE. Completed and published. You can listen to the five episode series in the Speak Up Storytelling feed.

STORYTELLING/SPEAKING CAREER

23. Produce a total of 6 Speak Up storytelling events.

Elysha and I have produced four shows so far in 2021.

We’ve partnered with The Hill-stead Museum in Farmington, CT for our first live show in more than a year, outdoors.

August 18 with an August 19 rain date. Tickets still available.

We’ve also scheduled live shows (depending on the pandemic) with the Wadsworth Atheneum, the Copper Beech Institute, and the Connecticut Historical Society for the fall.

24. Pitch myself to at least 3 upcoming TEDx events with the hopes of being accepted by one.

DONE! I pitched talks to TEDx events in New Haven, Boston University, and Salem University.

I await word.

I also delivered a talk at TEDx Berkshires on July 24. It went well.

25. Pitch myself to Master Class at least three times in 2021. 

One pitch made so far in 2021.

Anyone know anyone? Anyone have a thought about how I might get their attention? Anyone want to organize a Matthew Dicks rally outside of Master Class headquarters?

26. Attend at least 5 Moth events with the intention of telling a story.

DONE! I attended my first LIVE StorySLAM in July. On my ten year anniversary in storytelling. My first live StorySLAM in in almost two years!

This brought my total to 9 events in 2021.

I’ll be attending another Moth StorySLAM in Brooklyn in August.

27. Win at least one Moth StorySLAM.

DONE! I won my 51st Moth StorySLAM in February. Certainly not the same as a live, onstage StorySLAM, but it’s always an honor to tell a story to an audience of any kind.

I also won the story slam at the International Festival for Arts and Ideas in New Haven, Connecticut in June.

28. Win a Moth GrandSLAM.

DONE!

I won my seventh Moth GrandSLAM in May.

I9. Produce at least 25 episodes of our podcast Speak Up Storytelling.

One episode recorded in July. It drops on Monday. My assistant, Kaia, is now editing the podcast, which will make things a little easier for us.

A total of 14 episodes so far in 2021. Still ahead of schedule.

30. Perform stand-up at least 3 times in 2021.

No progress, but my friend, David, has a solid 5-10 minutes of material and is ready to give standup a shot. As soon as open mics are running again, we’ll be there, ready to perform.

31. Pitch at least three stories to This American Life.

No progress.

32. Pitch myself to Marc Maron’s WTF podcast at least three times.

One pitch made so far in 2021.

33. Produce at least 12 new videos for my YouTube channel in 2021. 

No videos produced in June. One video so far in 2021. But I will be recording content for a new business that I am launching with a partner, so this may need to wait.

Also, my assistant will be digitizing content on DVD’s that can be uploaded soon.

34. Explore a means of producing my storytelling instruction asynchronously for an online platform.

DONE! Partners found. Contracts signed. We are on our way!

HOME

35. Print, hang, and/or display at least 25 prints, photos, or portraits in our home.

Work has commenced! Elysha has hung three pieces of art in the living room. Much more to do, but it’s a start.

36. Assemble an emergency preparedness kit.

DONE! I purchased a pre-packaged survival kit and have since been added needed items, including a seed kit, survival straws, emergency blankets, N-95 masks, duct tape, and some personal items.

In July, I added three wilderness survival books to the kits.

37. Clear the basement.

Several items removed every week in July along with trash pickup.

Incrementalism at work.

FAMILY/FRIENDS

38. Call brother or sister once per week. 

I spoke to my sister in July. She visited my home for the first time!

No calls to my brother.

39. Take at least one photo of my children every day.

Done.

40. Take at least one photo with Elysha and myself each week.

Done! First month when this goal was accomplished!

41. Plan a reunion of the Heavy Metal Playhouse.

No progress, but an online reunion feels quite doable now.

42. I will not comment, positively or negatively, about physical appearance of any person save my wife and children, in 2021 in an effort to reduce the focus on physical appearance in our culture overall.

Done. I rarely even consider physical appearance anymore, but I had a couple moments in July when I would’ve absolutely spoken about someone’s physical appearance absent this goal.

43. Surprise Elysha at least six times in 2021.

DONE!

Eight surprises so far.

In January, I surprised Elysha by sending flowers to her while at work on her birthday. They were reportedly some of the best flowers she has ever received.

In February, I surprised Elysha with a Pusheen knit hat. It was actually a replacement hat after the one I purchased for her birthday did not fit.

In May, I sent Elysha some especially awesome flowers that caused her colleagues to comment repeatedly about the quality of the arrangement.

In May, I surprised Elysha with weekend plans on Martha’s Vineyard for our anniversary.

In June, I surprised Elysha with Springsteen on Broadway tickets.

Also in June, I sent a cleverly designed card to her school, timed to arrive during the last week of classes.

Also in June, I cleaned the litter boxes for her during her last week of school when things got busy. Having cleaned the litter boxes for out last two cats, she’s agreed that this chore is hers for these cats.

In July, I surprised Elysha with a pile of anniversary presents after we agreed that our trip to Martha’s Vineyard would be our gift to each other.

44. Play poker at least six times in 2021.

Two games so far in 2021.

Two scheduled but cancelled games because of poor attendance.

45. Spend at least six days with my best friend of more than 30 years.

Bengi and I Dj’d a wedding in May.

One day spent in 2021 so far. But I’m trying.

NEW PROJECTS

46. Play music in class.

Done.

I wish I had played more, but we listened to several musicians during the 2020-2021 school year.

I will continue this in the fall with my new batch of students.

47. Learn to play the piano by practicing at least three times a week. 

Done.

I averaged a little more than 3 days of practice per week in July.

48. Convert our wedding video to a transferable format.

I’m passing this assignment off to Kaia. Perhaps she will have more luck than me.

49. Memorize 5 new poems.

I’ve memorized “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost. Admittedly I knew more than half of it before I began, and I will continue to need to reinforce it before I am sure that it’s committed to memory for good, but it’s essentially done.

I’m still working on “In Flanders Field” by John McCrae. For the fifth month. I nearly have it.

I know I’ve said that before.

50. Write to at least 3 colleges about why they should hire me.

No progress.

51. Understand Instagram better.

No progress.

52. Complete my Eagle Scout project.

No progress.

53. Post my progress in terms of these resolutions on this blog and social media on the first day of every month.

Done.