PERSONAL FITNESS
1. Don’t die.
Hernia surgery complete.
I was later told about several people who died during this same surgery, but thankfully, I was only informed about their demise after my own surgery was complete. It’s going to be a while before I can resume normal activities, and I am frankly shocked by the number and size of the incisions on my chest and belly, but I am alive and well.
2. Lose 20 pounds.
I had lost three more pounds in October – 15 pounds in total for 2021 – then I had surgery. Now I weigh 11 pounds more than pre-surgery.
11 pounds!
I was weighed just prior to surgery, and then I was weighed again the next day, and I weighed 11 pounds more!
Apparently this is normal following abdominal surgery.
The most common cause of weight gain after surgery is fluid retention, also known as postoperative edema. Edema occurs when extra fluid builds up in your body to respond to inflammation and promote healing. It may also be caused by intravenous fluids given during surgery.
But 11 pounds? Nearly a dozen pounds of fluid just sloshing around inside of me?
What the hell am I supposed to do with this goal now?
I’ve decided to ignore this goal completely in October. Forget the three pounds lost before the surgery and just assume (and hope) that I am still down just 12 pounds in 2021.
Hopefully things are back to normal at the end of November.
3. Do at least 100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, and 3 one-minute planks for five days a week.
All of these exercises have stopped before and after my hernia surgery. I can’t do a single push up, sit up, or plank until January 1, 2022.
It’s killing me.
I may need my friend and personal trainer, Erica Newfang, to help me get back on track once I’m healed. I’m going to be a damn weakling by the time this is over.
4. Cycle for at least 5 days every week.
Zero rides in October in preparation for hernia surgery. Once I am pain free, though, I can resume riding the stationary bike (no regular bike until January) so hopefully 2-3 weeks from now, I’ll be pedaling again.
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, too.
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.
DONE!
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.
But I’ll need to get my ass in gear if I hope to finish any of them this year.
10. Write 40,000 words of a memoir.
Progress! More than 19,000 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 because I was consumed with finishing Someday is Today.
But I have been making solid progress.
13. Write a musical.
My partner, Kaia, made great progress thanks to The Moth’s change in schedule for a StorySLAM and their failure to notify me. The first half of the show is outlined, and writing has begun.
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. Again, I need to get my ass in gear if I hope to make this happen.
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.
This has been a big, fat failure.
If you have suggestions on something I should try or adopt, please let me know. I’m struggling to find new things to try.
17. Increase my newsletter subscriber base to 6,000 (from 4,497).
I added another 47 subscribers in October for a total of 5,043.
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).
Two newsletters sent in October.
A total of 17 newsletters sent so far in 2021. I’ll need to increase my output in these final two months in order to reach 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 20 letters written and sent in October. Mostly to former students. Two prank letters. One written to a business in thanks for their service.
A total of 88 letters written and mailed 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.
DONE!
Elysha and I produced a Voices of Hope show featuring the children and grandchildren of Holocaust survivors, plus the child of a Bosnian genocide survivor and an actual Rwandan genocide survivor.
Six shows so far in 2021.
We’ve also scheduled shows (depending on the pandemic) with 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. You can watch it here.
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’ve performed in a total of six Moth events in 2021 – three live StorySLAMs, one virtual StorySLAM, and two virtual GrandSLAMs.
I was supposed to attend a StorySLAM in October in Boston, but The Moth’s scheduling snafu screwed that up,
Including events where I didn’t perform, this brings my total to 11 events in 2021.
27. Win at least one Moth StorySLAM.
DONE! I won my 53rd Moth StorySLAM in September in Boston. My second Moth StorySLAM victory of 2021.
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 October. 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 October. 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 DVDs 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 was scheduled to come last month to assist Elysha. That didn’t happen, so I’m hoping it will happen soon.
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 October along with trash pickup.
Incrementalism at work, though a full day commitment would be ideal. Sadly, my hernia recovery will prevent me from lifting anything heavy for eight weeks.
FAMILY/FRIENDS
38. Call brother or sister once per week.
My sister and I spoke on the phone once in October.
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.
No photos taken of Elysha and me in October. Big fail.
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.
43. Surprise Elysha at least six times in 2021.
DONE!
Ten 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.
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.
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.
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.
Sam Cooke, Stevie Wonder, Tom Petty, ELO, CCR, Aretha Franklin, and Dolly Parton played in October.
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 October.
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.”
Closing in on all three.
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 but I had surgery so too bad.
