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 August 2026.
PERSONAL FITNESS/ATHLETICS
1. Don’t die.
Feeling great.
My cholesterol is a little high, but my doctor has ordered additional tests to determine the nature of the problem.
I’m vitamin D deficient but currently on a high-dose vitamin D supplement.
My shoulder is sore, but this is the result of playing a lot of golf, so it’s pain well earned.
My colonoscopy result was negative on all fronts.
I’ll live forever or die trying.
2. Lose 10 pounds.
Done!
I lost 4 more pounds in August.
A total of 21 pounds lost in 2026 so far.
3. Do a targeted push-up workout at least three times per week.
My sore shoulder has altered my usual workout and reduced my daily push-ups, but I still did the job.
A total of 17 days of push-ups in August.
4. Complete 100 sit-ups three times per week.
Done.
Also 17 days of sit-ups in August.
5. Cycle or ruck for at least five days every week.
I rode my bike — outdoors or indoors — on 25 days in August.
I also went rucking six days in August.
6. Try at least three new vegetables I have never eaten before or do not like.
Done!
I tried jicama in August, and it was fine. I’d rather eat an apple or a potato, but if I want to eat both at the same time, jicama is a decent, albeit boring, choice.
Add this to arugula and zucchini, and that makes three new veggies tried in 2026.
I’m happy to overachieve in this category if anyone has a suggestion.
7. Average 2.1 putts per hole by the end of 2026.
Improvement from July to August. Current average putts per hole at the end of August is 1.916.
That’s an average of 34.48 putts per 18 holes.
8. Average 180 yards per drive by the end of 2026.
Progress! My lessons are starting to pay off. I hit drives over 200 yards three times in August, and my overall average in 2026 was 162 yards — significantly higher than last month.
I’ve also hit drives that exceeded 210 yards on the range many times, including one that went 224 yards — my longest ever.
I’m still perfectly capable of hitting the ball 140 yards, too, and I am still do it often. My on-plane swing now causes me to pop up drives, so I still have work to do, but I’ve made progress, and I have hope.
I’ll take an accurate measure of drives in September to determine where I am relative to my goal.
WRITING CAREER
9. Complete my ninth novel.
Work continues.
10. Write, edit, and revise my golf memoir.
Work has begun on the revision.
11. Write a proposal for my next storytelling book.
Done.
12. Write a proposal for my Substack memoir about the summer of 2007 that can be pitched to editors.
My agent doesn’t think it will sell. I’ll need to convince her otherwise. Or maybe self-publish?
13. Exceed 100 paid subscribers to my Substack.
I began writing for my Substack again in August, and since then, I’ve reversed my losses and added 4 new paid subscribers.
I now have 39 paid subscribers, which is still fewer than when I started the year.
I also have 4,898 unpaid subscribers. That’s an increase of 95 in August.
14. Read and process The Heavy Metal Playhouse notebook.
No progress.
15. Write my “Advice for Kids” book.
Progress continues.
16. Find an idea and begin writing my next middle-grade novel.
Done. The idea has been identified, and progress has begun.
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.”
After determining that no publisher wants my book, we have begun looking into self-publishing options.
Sadly, the two people whom I trust most don’t love the book, either.
I need to send it to a few more people for thoughts.
20. Write about my childhood in partnership with my sister, Kelli, at least once per month.
Kelli and I have begun exchanging texts about childhood memories. I need to formalize this on some platform and build consistency.
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 letter sent in August.
One so far in 2026.
24. Write 150 letters.
Done!
I wrote 74 letters in August — to students, friends, friends of friends, clients, colleagues, neighbors, the Hyatt, and more. Many were thank-you notes, but others were actual letters to people whom I wanted to surprise and delight.
A total of 202 letters have been written so far this year.
25. Write to at least six authors about a book I love.
I wrote to three authors in August:
Children’s author Mac Barnett
Comic and memoirist Jimmy Carr (my hero)
Lindsey Kraft, writer and performer of the one-woman show “We’ve Been Here Before”
Three letters in total in 2026.
STORYTELLING/SPEAKING CAREER
26. Record and publish at least 25 videos on my YouTube channel.
Done!
Two videos were published in August.
A total of 22 so far in 2026.
And for the last three months, YouTube has been generating income.
Huzzah.
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.
We produced our second show on May 9 at the Connecticut Museum of Culture and History.
We produced another edition of “Matt and Jeni Are Unprepared” on July 11 at the Merryall Center in New Milford, CT.
We also have shows scheduled for October 3, 17, and 24, and December 5 and 13. Save the dates!
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. I did that talk in April.
Huzzah.
30. Attend at least eight Moth events with the intention of telling a story.
Done!
I did not attend a Moth StorySLAM in August. Lots of travel and a long client call kept me from attending.
A total of 9 so far in 2026.
31. Win at least one Moth StorySLAM.
Done!
I won a Moth StorySLAM in San Francisco, making it my fifth city to win a StorySLAM.
Previous cities include New York, Boston, Seattle, and Washington, D.C.
32. Win a Moth GrandSLAM.
No progress. I had to decline an invitation to a Boston GrandSLAM because I was already booked, so I’m waiting for the next one.
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 nine theaters so far in 2026, including:
The Hartford Stage
The GoodSpeed Opera House
The Seven Angels Theater
Blackfriars Theatre
CenterStage Theatre at the JCC
The Focus Theater
The Duke at The Mercantile on Main
Arial Arena
JCC Ballroom
I’ll be applying to Fringe Festivals in September and October when the application period opens up.
34. Produce at least 24 episodes of our podcast, Speak Up Storytelling.
No progress.
35. Perform stand-up at least six times.
I performed stand-up in the library in Monterey, MA, on January 30.
I performed stand-up in Orlando, Florida, while stuck because of a snowstorm.
I performed stand-up at an open mic in Victoria, Canada, while attending a conference.
Three performances 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.
Someone is coming in next week to make a recommendation and provide estimates.
FAMILY/FRIENDS
39. Text or call my brother or sister once per month.
I texted my sister and brother (who didn’t reply) in August.
40. Bring my brother, sister, and me together at least once in 2026.
We have a date in September. We’ll meet at a zoo in Massachusetts that we visited as children.
41. Take at least one photo of my children every day.
Done.
42. Take at least one photo with Elysha and me each week.
43. Plan a reunion of the Heavy Metal Playhouse.
Done!
After losing a friend and former HMP member, I finally took action. Our reunion is scheduled for February 21, 2027.
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.
Done!
Five surprises for Elysha in August:
- I surprised Elysha and the kids with tickets to “The Lost Boys” on Broadway.
- I skipped a trip to The Moth in NYC and showed up at the beach, where she was spending the day with the kids and friends.
- On the day before school began, I gave her a gift: A new roller bag filled with surprises, including books, stickers, art supplies, beauty products, and more. On our recent stay in New York City, she expressed jealousy over my roller bag and wished she had one.
I’m a good listener. - I sent flowers to Elysha on the first day of school.
- I gave Elysha a cookbook of people’s favorite pages of cookbooks.
A total of 18 surprises so far in 2026.
The list:
- I sent flowers to her school on her birthday.
- I delivered pastries to her school for her team to share.
- I sent flowers on Valentine’s Day.
- I planned a weekend getaway for August.
- I planned an anniversary surprise that couldn’t happen.
- I planned a surprise vacation to NYC.
- I sent flowers on the Friday before Mother’s Day.
- I gifted three weekends of spa treatments for Mother’s Day.
- I arrived in her classroom with books and Clara.
- I brought Elysha and her friend Pellegrino and pastries
- I brought Elysha into Boston for dinner with friends
- I bought Olivia Rodrigo tickets for Elysha and Clara
- I planned a wonderful anniversary evening that did not happen
- I bought tickets to “The Lost Boys on Broadway”
- I made a surprise appearance at the beach when I was supposed to be in NYC
- I gifted her a roller bag filled with presents for the first day of school
- I sent flowers on the first day of school.
- A gifted her a book
46. Play poker at least six times.
August game canceled due to lack of players. An October game is planned.
Four poker games so far in 2026.
47. Spend at least six days with my best friend of more than 30 years.
I had dinner with Bengi once in August and spent an hour on Zoom with him, too, when he was sick.
We’re working on a project now.
That brings our total to five in 2026.
MUSIC
48. Memorize the lyrics to at least five favorite songs.
I’ve decided to memorize the lyrics to Fleetwood Mac’s “Rumors.” I know many of them already, but I don’t know them all, and I don’t know any songs entirely. But my musically wise children love this album, so listening to it should be easy.
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 moved up my loneliness workshop for November and December, so I’ll create curriculum for this course in September and October.
52. Develop a list of strategies to help people deal with loneliness and produce it in some form.
Done!
I developed the curriculum, designed the course, and have scheduled a six-session series of workshops in Nocember and December for volunteers who are willing to test out my methods,
53. Read at least 12 books.
Done!
I read “The Storyteller’s Secret” by Carine Gallo
I read “Before and Laughter” by Jimmy Carr
I read “The Land and Its People” by David Sedaris
I read “52 Sundays” by Robert Bolton
I read “Lies My Teacher Told Me” by James Loewen
I’m currently reading:
“A Course Called Home” by Tom Coyne
“Make Believe” by Mac Barnett
I’ve read 15 books in 2026 thus far:
“Wizard and Glass” by Stephen King
“The Skyscraper Doom” by Norman Zierold
“The Dark Tower” by Stephen King
“Griffin and Sabine” by Nick Bantock
“Sabine’s Notebook” by Nick Bantock
“The Golden Mean” by Nick Bantock
“The Wind Through the Keyhole” by Stephen King
“Project Hail Mary” by Andy Weir
“This Is Strategy” by Seth Godin
“Regime Change” by Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan
“The Storyteller’s Secret” by Carine Gallo
“Before and Laughter” by Jimmy Carr
“The Land and Its People” by David Sedaris
“52 Sundays” by Robert Bolton
“Lies My Teacher Told Me” by James Loewen
54. Read “To the Lighthouse” by Virginia Woolf.
I purchased a beautiful copy of the book. I read the first six pages back in July
No progress in August, so I’ll probably need to read those first six pages again.
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 reading it circa 1982.
It did not hold up. Not even close.
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 am memorizing “Oh me! Oh Life!” by Walt Whitman and am almost done.
I’m also making a list of all the poems I have memorized to reinforce them.
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, completing 285 lessons in August, for an average of nearly 10 per day.
61. Post my progress regarding these resolutions on this blog and social media on the first day of every month.
Done.
