PERSONAL FITNESS
1. Don’t die.
Alive and well. Hernia surgery scheduled for later this month so I’ll still be hurting for a while, but definitely not dead.
2. Lose 20 pounds.
Lost 2 pounds in September.
Unable to exercise with my hernia and back pain that has resulted from compensating for the hernia has made it a challenging month indeed.
Down 12 pounds in 2021.
3. Do at least 100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, and 3 one-minute planks for five days a week.
All of these exercises needed to stop until I have my hernia surgery (and for 2-3 months after my surgery). It’s killing me.
Also, when I finally return to these exercises, they will be twice as difficult.
4. Cycle for at least 5 days every week.
Done. 20 rides in September – much shorter and gentler than usual – thanks to hernia and back pain.
5. Set a new personal best in golf.
Done! I shot a 44 for 9 holes at Rockledge Golf Course.
I also managed to shoot a 5-over-par 36 on a par 31 executive course. By far a personal best for that course.
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 am getting my memoir into shape first.
Nevertheless, writing continues.
7. Complete Someday is Today before the end of 2021.
Turning to my editor in 4 days!
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, plus I have an idea for a third. One is nearly finished. The other is outlined. Excited about both. I plan to continue the work once Someday Is Today is off my hands.
10. Write 40,000 words of a memoir.
Progress! More than 12,000 words written!
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 I’m consumed with 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, has been working on the show while I finish my book. We will collaborate shortly.
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 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 Grey 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 60 subscribers in June for a total of 4,996.
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).
No newsletters sent in September. The book has taken precedence over everything else.
A total of 15 newsletters sent so far in 2021.
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 2 letters written and sent in September.
A total of 68 so far in 2021.
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.
Five shows so far in 2021.
We’ve also scheduled shows (depending on the pandemic) with the Wadsworth Atheneum, the Copper Beech Institute, Voices of Hope, 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 a live StorySLAM in September. My third live Moth event this year.
This brought my total to 11 events in 2021.
I’ll be attending another Moth StorySLAM in Boston in October.
27. Win at least one Moth StorySLAM.
DONE! I won my 53rd Moth StorySLAM in September in Boston.
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.
No episodes recorded in September. My assistant, Kaia, is now editing the podcast, which will make things a little easier for us, but we still failed to record.
A total of 14 episodes so far in 2021.
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 September. 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 production 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.
Someone is scheduled to come this month to assist Elysha.
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.
37. Clear the basement.
Several items removed every week in September along with trash pickup.
Incrementalism at work.
FAMILY/FRIENDS
38. Call brother or sister once per week.
My sister and I spoke on the phone once in September.
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.
Only two photos taken with Elysha and myself in September.
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. Not even tempted to make a comment.
43. Surprise Elysha at least six times in 2021.
DONE!
Ten surprises so far.
In September, I sent a vase of flowers on the first day of school to Elysha and a second vase of flower for her students.
Also…
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.
In August, I surprised Elysha by signing her up for the Pusheen Fan Club. Every three months she will receive a box filled with Pusheen paraphernalia. In August it was beach-themed.
44. Play poker at least six times in 2021.
Two games so far in 2021.
Three 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.
Springsteen, Aretha Franklin, Van Morrison, Queen, and Dolly Parton in September.
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 September.
48. Convert our wedding video to a transferable format.
I’m passing this assignment off to Kaia. I’ve also been offered some suggestions from a friend. Between the two…
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 also memorized “Dust of Snow.”
I’m still working on “In Flanders Field” by John McCrae. For the sixth month. I thought I had it, but I don’t.
I’m also working on “Harlem,” “This Is Just to Say,” and “Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night.”
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. One day late because I wanted to post on the first day of school.
