Every month, I record my progress toward my yearly goals to hold myself accountable and occasionally seek help and advice from readers who are willing to offer insight, ideas, and solutions.
Here are my results from August.
PERSONAL FITNESS/ATHLETICS
1. Don’t die.
I’m still rucking. Forty pounds on my back now.
I’m going to live forever.
2. Lose 10 pounds.
Four more pounds gained in August. Vacation in Canada, filled with delicious food, made it difficult to maintain my weight,
Four additional pounds in 2025.
3. Do a targeted push-up workout at least four times per week.
I skipped a week while on vacation, which made getting back to my routine unexpectedly difficult.
4. Complete 100 sit-ups four times per week.
I skipped a week while on vacation, which made getting back to my routine unexpectedly difficult.
5. Complete three one-minute planks four times a week.
I skipped a week while on vacation, which made getting back to my routine unexpectedly difficult.
6. Cycle for at least five days every week.
I completed 19 rides in August — a mix of indoor and outdoor.
I was in Victoria, Montreal, and Quebec City in August for a total of 12 days, and I was unable to ride on any of those days.
I was also in Michigan for four days, but thanks to an excellent hotel gym, I was able to ride twice per day for three of these days, which helped a little.
A total of 168 rides so far this year.
7. Try at least three new vegetables I have never eaten before or do not like.
I ate my first gooseberry in back in July, which is not a vegetable.
Otherwise, no progress.
8. Get a DEXA Scan and VO2 Max test at least once in 2025.
Done!
9. Lower my handicap to 19.9.
I played 12 rounds of golf in August, including three 18-hole rounds, and my handicap rose to 27.8.
I am, however, making legitimate progress on my swing and have upgraded my driver. WRITING CAREER
10. Complete my eighth novel.
Work continues.
11. Write, edit, and revise my golf memoir.
No progress.
12. Write my “Advice for Kids” book.
Solid progress. Nearly complete.
13. Write/complete at least three new picture books, including one with a female, non-white protagonist.
I have an excellent children’s book idea that I will begin shortly.
14. Write about my childhood in partnership with my sister, Kelli, at least once per month.
No progress.
15. Write a new solo show.
Done!
16. Submit at least three Op-Ed pieces to The New York Times for consideration.
No progress.
17. Write at least four letters to my father.
I sent a letter and photos to my father in August.
Two letters so far this year.
18. Write 150 letters.
Done!
A total of 17 letters were written in August to students, former students, fans, clients, and my kids.
A total of 156 letters have been written in 2025 so far.
19. Write to at least six authors about a book I love.
No progress.
STORYTELLING/SPEAKING CAREER
20. Launch a new Homework for Life app.
Done! You can download Apple’s App Store now!
21. Record and publish at least 25 videos on my YouTube channel.
Done!
Four videos were posted in August. A total of 27 videos have been posted in 2025 so far.
Thanks to my production manager, my YouTube channel is really taking off.
We’ve also launched my TikTok channel. I’ve never been on TikTok, but my content is!
One of my stories has 950,000 views in four days and counting.
22. Perform a new solo show.
Done! Two sold-out shows were performed in May. New venues are now being sought.
23. Revise my free Storyworthy Academy.
Done.
Thanks primarily to the work of my partner and production manager, we have an outstanding free academy for anyone who wants to learn more about storytelling.
We’ve also just launched a brand new version of our website.
Check it out at storyworthy.com.
24. Record and produce at least three new Storyworthy courses.
Done! Two new courses have been completed and are now ready to launch with our new website.
25. Produce a total of six Speak Up storytelling events in 2025.
No shows were produced in August.
We have produced five shows in 2025 so far:
- January 11 at the Connecticut Museum of History and Culture
- February 7 at District in New Haven
- May 10 at the Connecticut Museum of History and Culture
- June 7 at the Mark Twain House
- June 28 at Hartford Flavor Company
We have upcoming shows on October 11, November 3, and at least one more date TBD.
26. Submit pitches to at least three upcoming TEDx events, hoping to be accepted by one.
No progress.
27. Attend at least eight Moth events with the intention of telling a story.
Done!
I attended two Moth StorySLAMs in August, including Clara and Charlie’s first StorySLAM! My name was drawn from the bag in one of the two competitions, and I finished in third place.
A total of nine Moth events in 2025.
28. Win at least one Moth StorySLAM.
Done! I won my 62nd Moth StorySLAM in March.
29. Win a Moth GrandSLAM.
No Moth GrandSLAM opportunities yet.
30. Pitch “You’re a Monster, Matthew Dicks” or my new show to six theaters in 2025.
No progress.
31. Produce at least 24 episodes of our podcast Speak Up Storytelling.
No progress.
32. Perform stand-up at least six times.
I performed stand-up comedy twice in Michigan.
I’ve performed stand-up three times in 2025.
33. Pitch three stories to This American Life.
No progress.
34. Submit at least three pitches to Marc Maron’s WTF podcast.
Done.
Three pitches sent to Maron, including one in August. To my surprise, Maron announced that is podcast is coming to an end in the fall, so my chances of making this dream come true is rapidly diminishing.
35. Send a newsletter to readers at least 50 times.
Done!
Four newsletters were sent in August to my Storyworrhy audience, plus one to our Speak Up audience and 11 to my Substack audience.
Check out my Substack here
https://substack.com/@matthewdicks
I’ve sent 84 newsletters so far in 2025.
HOME
36. Organize the basement.
More progress! Bins cleared. More furniture was eliminated.
36. Clear the garage of unwanted items.
Done! The garage is officially clean, and all unwanted items have been removed.
37. Replace our backyard shed.
Done!
The shed has been installed.
38. Refinish the hardwood floors.
Done.
FAMILY/FRIENDS
39. Travel to Europe.
We’ve decided to travel to Montreal and Quebec City instead of Europe this year.
I’m not sure whether to count this as complete or incomplete.
40. Text or call my brother or sister once per month.
Done.
41. Bring my brother, sister, and me together at least twice in 2025.
No progress.
42. Take at least one photo of my children every day.
Done.
43. Take at least one photo with Elysha and me each week.
Many photos were taken in August. Vacation and a wedding helped. Done.
44. Plan a reunion of the Heavy Metal Playhouse.
No progress.
45. 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.
46. Surprise Elysha at least 12 times.
No surprises in August.
I’ve surprised Elysha seven times in 2025:
- A surprise birthday party on January 4
- Post Valentine’s Day flowers
- Clever and amusing office supplies
- Flowers on the first day of testing
- Desserts for Elysha and her teammates
- Ukulele care package
- Mocktail subscription
47. Play poker at least six times.
Done!
I played poker twice with Charlie in 2025 — both times using a video poker game on a plane.
I’ve also played dozens of sessions of online poker again on a legal, sweepstakes-based website.
I’m in the black.
48. Spend at least six days with my best friend of more than 30 years.
I’ve taken two walks with Bengi in 2025.
A walk was scheduled in August, but Bengi was ill.
A total of two days spent with Bengi in 2025.
MUSIC
49. Memorize the lyrics to at least five favorite songs.
Currently working on memorizing “The Final Countdown.”
50. Practice the flute at least four times per week.
No progress.
MISCELLANEOUS PROJECTS
51. Host at least three dinner parties where I cook.
No progress.
52. Develop a course on self-confidence.
Progress continues. Strategies are being collected, an instructional outline is being developed, and I’m conducting interviews to gather thoughts and ideas.
53. Develop a list of strategies to help people deal with loneliness and produce it in some form.
I’ve started writing a book on the subject, based on the list of strategies I’m developing.
This was a surprise to me and my literary agent. Instead of writing the full book, I’ll write a proposal for it.
54. Read at least 12 books.
Done!
I read one book in August:
“The Art of Winning” by Bill Belichick
I’m currently reading:
“Sicker in the Head” by Judd Apatow
“Walden” by Henry David Thoreau
“The Gunslinger” by Stephen King (re-read)
“This Beautiful Day” by Fred Rogers
The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo (re-read)
I’ve read 17 books thus far in 2025:
“Unreasonable Hospitality” by Will Guidara
“Schtick to Business” by Pete McGraw
”The Humor Code” by Pete McGraw
“Catching the Big Fish” by David Lynch
“Simply Said” by Jay Sullivan
”Miracle and Wonder” by Bruce Headlam and Malcolm Gladwell
“Revenge of the Tipping Point” by Malcolm Gladwell
”Factfulness” by Hans Rosling
”Fight” by Jonathan Allen and Amie Parnes
“Steal Like an Artist” by Austin Kleon
“The User’s Guide to Storytelling” by Doug O’Brien
“Keep Going” by Austin Kleon
“Show Your Work” by Austin Kleon
“Big Dumb Eyes” by Nate Bartgatze
“Never Flinch” by Stephen King
“Lyrics to Live By” by Mitch Taylor
“The Art of Winning” by Bill Belichick:
55. Finish reading TIME’s 100 Best Children’s Books of All Time.
No progress in August.
I’ve read five additional books in 2025, bringing my total to 44 total books read off the list.
56. Edit our wedding footage into a movie of the day.
No progress.
57. Digitize a pile of DVDs that contain dance recitals, plays, and other assorted moments from the past.
Done!
58. Memorize three new poems.
Done!
I’ve memorized the following poems in 2025 thus far:
“This is Just to Say” by William Carlos Williams
“Fire and Ice” by Robert Frost
“Trees” by Joyce Kilmer
59. Post my progress regarding these resolutions on this blog and social media on the first day of every month.
Done.
