PERSONAL FITNESS
1. Don’t die.
Surgery recovery continues. Still breathing. Getting better every day.
2. Lose 20 pounds.
After bring down 15 pounds pre-surgery, I am not only down 3 pounds. Several factors conspired against me:
- Abdominal surgery often results in weight gain as the body retains fluids to assist in healing
- Limited movement for nearly a month while I recovered
- A complete lack of exercise for more than a month
- Thanksgiving
Losing 17 pounds in December will require the loss of a major limb, so this goal – which once seemed within reach – is looking impossible now.
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 February 1, 2022.
4. Cycle for at least 5 days every week.
Zero rides in November due to recovery. I can begin biking next week on a stationary bike only.
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 I’ve been getting my golf memoir into shape in order to send to my agent.
It won’t be my novel, but a different book will be completed before the end of the year.
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 been working hard on three different books but have yet to finish any of them.
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 20,000 words written.
I’m thrilled with the progress, but the 40,000 word goal is looking unlikely.
11. Write a new screenplay.
I have a writing partner who is still 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 I have been making solid progress.
13. Write a musical.
My partner, Kaia, have outlined the first half of the show, and writing has begun.
14. Submit at least five Op-Ed pieces to The New York Times for consideration.
Submitted one piece to the New York Times in November. Sadly, rejected.
Three pieces submitted thus far to 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.
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 52 subscribers in November for a total of 5,095.
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 November.
A total of 19 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 6 letters written and sent in November. Four to students. Two to nurses who helped me during my surgery.
A total of 94 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 show for the Copper Beech Institute in November.
Seven shows so far in 2021.
We’ve also producing our final show of 2021 – virtually – on Saturday, December 4. You should attend!
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 was also approached by TEDx Cornell about possibly speaking.
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 in November. Two so far in 2021.
Sadly, I can’t crack the Masterclass fortress to reach their production team. They are also not accepting unsolicited pitches, so I’ll need to find another way in.
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 November, but recovery from my surgery has been more challenging than expected, so I bailed.
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 November. 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 in November.
Two pitches made so far in 2021.
33. Produce at least 12 new videos for my YouTube channel in 2021.
No videos produced in November. One video so far in 2021. But I’ve been recording content for a new business that I am launching with partners, so this had taken the place of my YouTube content for now.
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.
Elysha has hung three pieces of art in the living room. Much more to do, but it’s a start.
We are scheduling someone to do some touch-up painting and assist us in hanging things this month.
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 November 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.
I have also hired my assistant to take on this job during winter break.
FAMILY/FRIENDS
38. Call brother or sister once per week.
My sister and I spoke on the phone once in November.
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 November. Oy.
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!
A total of 13 surprises so far.
In November, I sent a vase of flowers to Elysha while she was working. I honestly can’t recall the reason or occasion.
Also, Elysha’s next Pusheen Fan Club package arrived. Halloween themed. Four days after Halloween.
I also gave Elysha a Yankee Candle advent calendar. One small candle for the 24 days before Christmas. Naturally, Elysha – not knowing I was giving her an advent calendar – simultaneously gave me an advent calendar featuring Funko characters from The Office.
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.
I have one game 0 virtual – scheduled in December.
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.
NEW PROJECTS
46. Play music in class.
Done.
In November, we spent the first ten minutes of every morning listening to Earth, Wind, and Fire and Simon & Garfunkel.
I missed two weeks recovering from surgery.
The rest of the featured artists include Sam Cooke, Stevie Wonder, Tom Petty, ELO, CCR, Aretha Franklin, Bruce Springsteen, Queen, and Dolly Parton.
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 November, though the numbness in my hand thanks to my surgery has impeded progress.
48. Convert our wedding video to a transferable format.
I’ve passed this assignment off to Kaia.
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’ve finally, at last, memorized “In Flanders Field” by John McCrae.
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.
