PERSONAL FITNESS
1. Don’t die.
Elysha was hit by a car while walking across a parking lot and contracted COVID in April, but nothing nearly as dangerous happened to me.
2. Lose 10 pounds.
I still weigh exactly the same amount today as I did on January 1.
Doh!
However, I lost 37 pounds last year – absent any of those new medications – so holding steady is a good sign.
3. Do a targeted push-up workout at least four times per week.
Done.
4. Complete 100 sit-ups four times per week.
Done.
5. Complete three one-minute planks four times a week.
Done.
6. Cycle for at least five days every week.
Done. I missed only one day in April. I was traveling, so no bike was available, but I also rode multiple times on many days, too. Admittedly, I needed to squeeze in at least two rides after 10:30 PM, but exercise is not bound by any time constraints.
I’ve recorded 123 rides in 121 days in 2024.
7. Meet or beat the USGA’s average golfing handicap for men of 14.2.
I’ve begun recording my handicap on a new, more accurate, more official app, but I have yet to play enough golf to yield an official handicap.
But I played my first round on Sunday and two rounds before school this week. I should have a handicap soon.
WRITING CAREER
8. Complete my eighth novel.
I continue to work on the book based on the editor’s feedback. Excellent progress. Possibly complete by the end of June.
9. Write my next Storyworthy book.
I need to meet with my agent and editor to determine the subject of this next book.
I have a great idea, but I suspect they will want a different idea.
10. Write, edit, and revise my golf memoir.
I discussed this book with my agent last week and made a plan to proceed.
11. Write my “Advice for Kids” book.
Solid progress was made in April. It’s still very much in list form, but I can clearly see how it will develop.
12. Write/complete at least three new picture books, including one with a female, non-white protagonist.
Charlie and I have outlined at least two satirical picture books based on a book that Elysha read to her students in January. The books are irreverent, inappropriate, and fantastic.
I’ve also begun writing children’s books about Connecticut’s infamous October 2011 snowstorm and the gypsy moth invasion of New England in 1981.
I have two other ideas that I am also excited about.
13. Write about my childhood in partnership with my sister, Kelli, at least twice per month.
Kelli and I spent a day together in February but forgot to discuss this topic. We still need to discuss.
14. Launch a Substack.
I continue to be on pause, waiting to see what happens to Substack. A small but significant scandal has hit the company, and I don’t want to begin writing on a platform that may die. I will take a wait-and-see approach.
15. Write a new solo show.
All the work on this project is being done in my head since I’ve never written down anything I ever say onstage, so I don’t have much to show for my work, but I am working hard nonetheless. I am hoping for a weekend in November to debut the show.
16. Write a musical.
No progress.
17. Submit at least three Op-Ed pieces to The New York Times for consideration.
One story in progress.
18. Write at least four letters to my father.
One letter written in 2024 so far.
19. Write 150 letters.
I wrote 15 letters in April. Recipients included current students, a podcaster, storytellers, a friend, and my children.
I’ve written a total of 63 letters in 2024.
20. Write to at least six authors about a book I love.
I have now identified three authors to whom I will write. No actual writing progress made.
STORYTELLING/SPEAKING CAREER
21. Perform a new solo show.
A theater has been tentatively secured for the debut of this show, either in August or November of 2024.
22. Complete the re-recording of Storyworthy For Business.
The revised course outline is nearly complete, and a production schedule is in place.
23. Record and produce at least two new Storyworthy courses.
I’ve recorded two webinars that will likely become courses that we sell. They have already been added to the platform for members, which might not count as a new course unless we also sell them separately.
So maybe?
I’m also recording four new webinars in May, so maybe again?
24. Produce a total of six Speak Up storytelling events in 2024.
Two shows produced in 2024 so far:
- “Matt and Jeni Are Unprepared” on March 2 at TheaterWorks in Hartford.
- “Sportsing” on March 16 at the Connecticut Museum of Culture and History
We also have the following shows scheduled for 2024:
- May 3: A fundraising show at Sedgwick Middle School in West Hartford, CT
- June 11: A Speak Up – CPA Prison Arts show at The Pond House in West Hartford, CT
- June 15: “Stores Sell: Storyworthy Strategies to Grow Your Business and Brand” release party at the Connecticut Museum of Culture and History
- June 17: A Speak Up – Voices of Hope collaboration at the JCC in Hartford, CT
25. Submit pitches to at least three upcoming TEDx events, hoping to be accepted by one.
No progress.
I spoke at TEDxBU on April 20. It went very well.
26. Attend at least eight Moth events with the intention of telling a story.
I attended one Moth StorySLAM in April. The theme was “Green,” and I was going to tell a story about Elysha, whose maiden name is Green. She even attended the show with me!
Then my name was not chosen from the bag. Bah!
Four Moth events so far in 2024.
27. Win at least one Moth StorySLAM.
Done! I won the Boston StorySLAM. My 60th Moth StorySLAM victory!
28. Win a Moth GrandSLAM.
I competed in the Moth GrandSLAM in Boston in March and placed second.
I think I should’ve won, but I think that a lot.
I’ll be performing in a GrandSLAM in Seattle, NYC, and Washington, DC later this year.
29. Pitch “You’re a Monster, Matthew Dicks” to at least a dozen theaters and/or directors in 2024.
I pitched “You’re a Monster, Matthew Dicks” to one theater in January. I then performed the show on March 30 at the Mopco Improv Theater in Schenectady, New York. It went quite well.
30. Produce at least 24 episodes of our podcast Speak Up Storytelling.
No progress.
31. Perform stand-up at least six times.
No progress.
32. Pitch three stories to This American Life.
One story has been pitched thus far.
33. Submit at least three pitches to Marc Maron’s WTF podcast.
No progress.
34. Send a newsletter to readers at least 50 times.
I’m going to need to revise or eliminate this goal. I’m sending a lot of emails to Storyworthy members and customers now, so defining a newsletter versus a Storyworthy email is tricky.
I’m still reflecting and perhaps pivoting. Depending on what happens with Substack, this goal and Substack may merge.
HOME
35. Organize the basement.
It appears that the basement ceilings are too low to make finishing the basement worthwhile. So, cleaning may commence without the much-anticipated work.
36. Clear the garage of unwanted items.
A trip to the dump is planned for Saturday, which will hopefully remove all large items.
Elysha’s long-forgotten classroom detritus still needs to be eliminated. It is likely a summertime job.
FAMILY/FRIENDS
37. Text or call my brother or sister once per month.
Done.
38. Take at least one photo of my children every day.
Done.
39. Take at least one photo with Elysha and me each week.
On photo of Elysha and me taken in April. Four so far in 2024.
40. Plan a reunion of the Heavy Metal Playhouse.
No progress. But in a strange coincidence, a teacher in our school grew up in Attleboro, where the Heavy Metal Playhouse was located, and is friends with the person who manages Crystal Village, where it was located.
An in-person reunion is probably impossible, given how spread out my friends are today, but it gave me a little hope.
41. I will not comment positively or negatively about the physical appearance of any person save my wife and children to reduce the focus on physical appearance in our culture overall.
Done.
42. Surprise Elysha at least 12 times.
Two surprises are planned in April, but they will not be revealed until sometime in the future.
Two surprises in 2024 so far:
- Tickets to “Little Shop of Horrors” on Broadway
- Tickets to “Merrily We Go Along” on Broadway
43. Play poker at least six times.
No progress.
44. Spend at least six days with my best friend of more than 30 years.
No progress.
MUSIC
45. Memorize the lyrics to at least five favorite songs.
I memorized the lines to my new favorite Styx song, “Our Wonderful Lives.”
You should go listen to it.
One song memorized in 2024 so far.
46. Practice the flute at least four times per week.
I’ve practiced just six times in April. Charlie asked me to bring the flute home, but I’m worried he will instantly play better than me. He somehow has taught himself to play the piano, alongside his guitar and trumpet.
He’s even playing the harmonica with skill now.
MISCELLANEOUS PROJECTS
47. Read at least 12 books.
I read two books in April, which brings my total to seven so far:
“Misfit” by Gary Gulman
“How to Weep in Public” by Jacqueline Novak
I’m currently reading:
”Smart Brevity” by Jim VandeHei, Mike Allen, and Roy Schwartz
“The Power Broker” by Robert Caro
“Hello, Molly” by Molly Shannon
“The Anxious Generation” by Jonathan Haidt
Books read in 2024 include:
- “Upstream” by Chip Heath
- ”Happy Pepple Are Annoying” by Josh Peck
- ”Comedy Comedy Comedy Drama” by Bob Odenkirk
- “The Power of Regret” by Daniel Pink
- “Fluke” by Brian Klass
- “Misfit” by Gary Gulman
- “How to Weep in Public” by Jacqueline Novak
48. Finish reading TIME’s 100 Best Children’s Books of All Time.
I read one book from the list in April.
I also printed a list of books still in need of reading so my students and I can begin collecting those books from the library on rainy recess days.
I’ve read 23 books from the list thus far.
49. Unify my passwords using a password manager.
Nearly complete. Just need to do a final check of the computer for any stray programs I may have missed.
50. Learn to use QuickBooks for my business.
Done! Invoicing, payroll, and taxes are now all managed via QuickBooks. It’s much easier than I thought.
51. Rectify the heating problem in my studio.
I received estimates on this project, which is honestly more than I expected.
As a temporary measure, I’ve purchased an electric radiator and plugged it into a Bluetooth outlet so I can turn the heat on before going downstairs, which allowed the warm to be warm by the time I enter.
This solution might be better than the thousands of dollars required to install heat.
52. Learn the names of every employee who works at my school.
I learned the names of one person in April. I also forgot one person’s name.
53. Assemble a complete toolbox.
I’ve purchased all of the necessary tools and a box to organize them. However, I still need to gather the stray tools around the house, consolidate everything into one place, and eliminate redundant tools.
54. Edit our wedding footage into a movie of the day.
No progress.
55. Memorize three new poems.
I have memorized “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost, which is longer than you think.
I’m now working on Act V Scene 5, lines 18-28 of Macbeth and James Joyce’s “Tree.”
56. Complete my Eagle Scout project.
No progress.
57. Post my progress regarding these resolutions on this blog and social media on the first day of every month.
Done.
