Every month, I record my progress toward my yearly goals to hold myself accountable and, occasionally, seek help and advice from readers willing to offer insight, ideas, and solutions.
Here are my results from February 2026.
PERSONAL FITNESS/ATHLETICS
1. Don’t die.
No injuries. No near-death moments.
Also, the tube in my left ear has been removed. Fingers crossed I don’t need another!
2. Lose 10 pounds.
I lost four pounds in January and then promptly put them back on in February. Much of this is due to a sudden, temporary change in my schedule that prevents me from eating a healthy dinner at home each night and exercising as long as I’d like.
I hope to return to my regular schedule soon.
3. Do a targeted push-up workout at least three times per week.
Done. I’ve switched to a new routine for 2026, hoping variety will make it less boring.
4. Complete 100 sit-ups three times per week.
Done.
5. Cycle or ruck for at least five days every week.
I rode my indoor bike on 20 of 28 days in February. I missed four days of exercise over the last week or so due to a change in my schedule, but again, this is temporary and should be resolved soon.
Oh, and I bought a new bike. It’s fantastic. I’m liking riding a lot more.
6. Try at least three new vegetables I have never eaten before or do not like.
I tried zucchini back in January and didn’t hate it.
7. Average 2.1 putts per hole by the end of 2026.
No golf in February. The three feet of snow have been a barrier.
I’m averaging 2.05 putts per round in 2026.
8. Average 180 yards per drive by the end of 2026.
No progress. Also, no data on this yet.
WRITING CAREER
9. Complete my ninth novel.
Work has begun.
10. Write, edit, and revise my golf memoir.
My friend is currently reading the manuscript to offer me advice. Revision will follow.
11. Write a proposal for my next storytelling book.
Nearly complete. Very close.
12. Write a proposal for my Substack memoir about the summer of 2007 that can be pitched to editors.
I’ve sent a short, rough draft proposal to my agent for feedback. Depending on her response, I will either revise my thinking or begin writing the proposal.
13. Exceed 100 paid subscribers to my Substack.
I lost a subscriber in February, bringing my total down to 49 paid subscribers.
I haven’t done anything yet to promote the Substack, so the slow growth is not surprising.
I have 4,465 unpaid subscribers, too.
I’m still plus four paid subscribers so far this year.
14. Read and process The Heavy Metal Playhouse notebook.
No progress.
15. Write my “Advice for Kids” book.
Progress continues. I’d like to think I’m close to being finished, but I keep adding new ideas.
I added three new ideas just this week!
16. Find an idea and begin writing my next middle-grade novel.
I found an idea! I sent the idea to my literary agent for feedback.
I await her thoughts. But Clara likes it!
17. Revise at least two of the picture books in my pile of unpublished picture books and prepare for submission.
No progress.
18. Write/complete at least three new picture books, including one with a female, non-white protagonist.
Lots of new ideas.
No writing yet.
19. Explore the possibilities for publishing “The Gimme Tree” — my satirical take on “The Giving Tree.”
No progress.
20. Write about my childhood in partnership with my sister, Kelli, at least once per month.
No progress.
21. Write a new solo show.
Topic and story chosen. Work in my head has begun. Since I never write my shows on paper, this represents real work.
22. Submit at least three Op-Ed pieces to The New York Times for consideration.
A piece was published on the front page of the New York Times in February about backing into parking spots, for which I was interviewed and mentioned often.
I count this as one submission in 2026.
23. Write at least four letters to my father.
No progress.
24. Write 150 letters.
I only wrote four letters in February — to students and a fan of my novels.
A total of 19 letter written so far this year.
25. Write to at least six authors about a book I love.
No progress.
STORYTELLING/SPEAKING CAREER
26. Record and publish at least 25 videos on my YouTube channel.
Three videos were published in February.
Three in total for 2026.
27. Record and produce at least one new Storyworthy course.
No progress.
28. Produce a total of six Speak Up storytelling events in 2026.
We produced our first show of 2026 on January 31 at the Connecticut Museum of Culture and History.
I’ve scheduled three more shows for 2026 so far.
29. Submit pitches to at least three upcoming TEDx events, hoping to be accepted by one.
Done!
I submitted a pitch to TEDx Charleston, and it was accepted.
Huzzah.
30. Attend at least eight Moth events with the intention of telling a story.
I attended a Moth StorySLAM in Boston in February.
The other was snowed out.
Three so far in 2026.
31. Win at least one Moth StorySLAM.
My name did not emerge from the bag in February.
No victories yet.
32. Win a Moth GrandSLAM.
No progress. I was forced to decline an invitation to a Boston GrandSLAM because I was booked already, so I await the next.
33. Pitch “You’re a Monster, Matthew Dicks” or “Shovel” or my new show to at least six theaters in 2026.
Done!
I pitched “Shovel” to seven theaters in February, including:
The Hartford Stage
The GoodSpeed Opera House
The Seven Angels Theater
Four theaters in association with the Rochester Fringe Festival
The Hartford Stage passed. I await word from the others.
I’ll be submitting to more in the coming weeks and months.
34. Produce at least 24 episodes of our podcast, Speak Up Storytelling.
No progress.
35. Perform stand-up at least six times.
I performed a stand-up in the library in Monterey, MA, on January 30.
One performance thus far in 2026
36. Pitch three stories to This American Life.
No progress.
HOME
37. Organize the basement.
No progress.
38. Replace the floor in my office.
We found a person who can do the job.
Step #1 complete.
FAMILY/FRIENDS
39. Text or call my brother or sister once per month.
I texted with my sister in February.
Clara texted with her a lot more.
40. Bring my brother, sister, and me together at least once in 2026.
No progress.
41. Take at least one photo of my children every day.
Done.
42. Take at least one photo with Elysha and me each week.
I took only one photo of Elysha and me in February.
This shouldn’t be so hard.
43. Plan a reunion of the Heavy Metal Playhouse.
No progress.
44. I will not comment positively or negatively on the physical appearance of anyone except my wife and children to reduce the focus on physical appearance in our culture overall.
Done. Simple and automatic now.
45. Surprise Elysha at least 12 times.
I sent flowers to Elysha on Valentine’s Day.
Three surprises so far in 2026.
The list:
- I sent flowers to Elysha at her school on her birthday.
- I personally delivered pastries to Elysha at her school to share with her team.
- I sent flowers to Elysha on Valentine’s Day.
46. Play poker at least six times.
I played poker once with Charlie in February.
Two poker games so far in 2026.
47. Spend at least six days with my best friend of more than 30 years.
I did not see Bengi in February, but we’ve begun seeking easier and better ways to connect. .
MUSIC
48. Memorize the lyrics to at least five favorite songs.
No progress.
49. Practice the flute at least four times per week.
No progress.
MISCELLANEOUS PROJECTS
50. Host at least one dinner party where I cook.
No progress.
51. Develop a course on self-confidence.
I found additional research on confidence that I am layering into the work I’ve already done. I plan to run a free six-week workshop on confidence in the fall.
52. Develop a list of strategies to help people deal with loneliness and produce it in some form.
No progress.
53. Read at least 12 books.
I read one book in February:
Stephen King’s “Wizard and Glass,” which is 928 pages long.
One book so far in 2026.
54. Read “To the Lighthouse” by Virginia Woolf.
I purchased a beautiful copy of the book.
55. Read “The Skyscraper Doom” by Norman Zierold.
Done!
I read the book — the first book I ever checked out of a library — on a plane to Charleston, South Carolina.
I had fond memories of that book from when I read it circa 1982.
It did not hold up.
56. Finish reading TIME’s 100 Best Children’s Books of All Time.
No progress.
57. Edit our wedding footage into a movie of the day.
No progress.
58. Memorize three new poems.
I’m memorizing Langston Hughes’ “Still Here.”
It’s a tricky one because it’s written in the vernacular of the time and place that Hughes was occupying.
59. Explore the possibility of earning the rank of Eagle.
No progress.
60. Complete at least five Duolingo lessons every day.
Done. I far exceeded this goal, averaging nine lessons per day in February.
61. Post my progress regarding these resolutions on this blog and social media on the first day of every month.
Done.
