Resolution update: February 2024
PERSONAL FITNESS
1. Don’t die.
Still alive.
2. Lose 10 pounds.
I weigh exactly the same amount today as I did on January 1. That may not seem like an achievement, but given that I lost 37 pounds last year, holding steady is a good sign.
Still, I need to start losing some weight to reach my new goal.
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 of riding in February because I was traveling. I’ve recorded 61 rides in 60 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. Stupid winter.
WRITING CAREER
8. Complete my eighth novel.
I’ve begun work on the novel based on the editor’s feedback. Excellent progress in February.
9. Write my next Storyworthy book.
I need to meet with my agent and editor to determine the subject of this next book. I spoke to my agent last week but forgot to include this on the agenda.
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 February.
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.
No progress as of yet.
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 will need to do so over the phone, I guess.
14. Launch a Substack.
I have paused this goal, 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 have never written down anything I ever say onstage, so I don’t have much to show, but I am working hard nonetheless.
16. Write a musical.
No progress.
17. Submit at least three Op-Ed pieces to The New York Times for consideration.
No progress.
18. Write at least four letters to my father.
No progress.
19. Write 150 letters.
I wrote 32 letters in February. Recipients are former and current students, colleagues, friends, two businesses, Elysha, and a Moth producer.
I’ve written a total of 37 letters in 2024.
20. Write to at least six authors about a book I love.
I identified two authors to whom I will write. No other progress was 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.
An outline of the revised course is nearly complete.
23. Record and produce at least two new Storyworthy courses.
No progress. Kind of. I’ve actually recorded two webinars that may become courses that we sell. They may also be added to the platform for members, which would not count as a new course.
So maybe?
24. Produce a total of six Speak Up storytelling events in 2023
Three shows are scheduled for 2024 thus far. These include:
“Matt and Jeni Are Unprepared” on March 2 at TheaterWorks in Hartford.
“Sportsing” on March 16 at the Connecticut Historical Society
A Speak Up – Voices of Hope collaboration on June 17 at the JCC in Hartford
25. Submit pitches to at least three upcoming TEDx events, hoping to be accepted by one.
No progress.
I will be speaking at TEDxBU on April 20.
26. Attend at least eight Moth events with the intention of telling a story.
I attended one Moth StorySLAM in February.
One Moth event 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 was supposed to attend a Moth GrandSLAM in New York in February, but a snowstorm prevented me from attending.
I’ll be performing in a GrandSLAM in Boston in February and Seattle in October. My New York City GrandSLAM appearance has been rescheduled for later in the year.
29. Pitch “You’re a Monster, Matthew Dicks” to at least a dozen theaters and/or directors in 2023.
I pitched “You’re a Monster, Matthew Dicks” to one theater in January.
I will be performing the show on March 30 at the Mopco Improv Theater in Schenectady, New York.
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.
Three newsletters were sent in February. Six so far in 2024.
HOME
35. Organize the basement.
We are still collecting estimates for finishing the entire basement, which would necessitate a complete reorganization.
36. Clear the garage of unwanted items.
I swept out the fall leaves from the garage in February.
FAMILY/FRIENDS
37. Text or call my brother or sister once per month.
Texted my brother and visited my sister in February.
38. Take at least one photo of my children every day.
Done.
39. Take at least one photo with Elysha and me each week.
Two photos of Elysha and me were taken in February, doubling last month’s total.
40. Plan a reunion of the Heavy Metal Playhouse.
No progress. But in a strange coincidence, it turns out that 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.
I surprised Elysha in February twice:
Tickets to “Merrily We Go Along” on Broadway – a show she very much wanted to see – for Valentine’s Day
A card sent to her school offering words of encouragement
In January, I surprised her with tickets to “Little Shop of Horrors” 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.
No progress.
46. Practice the flute at least four times per week.
I’ve practiced six times in February. Not great.
MISCELLANEOUS PROJECTS
47. Read at least 12 books.
I read three books in February:
”Comedy Comedy Comedy Drama” by Bob Odenkirk
“The Power of Regret” by Daniel Pink
“Fluke” by Brian Klass
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
Books read in 2024 include:
“Upstream” by Chip Heath
”Happy Pepple Are Annoying” by Josh Peck
”Smart Brevity” by Jim VandeHei, Mike Allen, and Roy Schwartz
“The Power Broker” by Robert Caro
“Hello, Molly” by Molly Shannon
48. Finish reading TIME’s 100 Best Children’s Books of All Time.
No progress. I’ve read 22 books from the list thus far.
49. Unify my passwords using a password manager.
Great progress was made in February. I am still finding passwords in need of unification, but most are now securely protected by a program called One Password. I also need to remove Last Pass from my computer so I don’t have competing programs.
50. Learn to use QuickBooks for my business.
Done! Invoicing, payroll, and taxes are now all being managed via QuickBooks. Much easier than I thought.
51. Rectify the heating problem in my studio.
I received estimates on this project, which is on hold as we debate finishing the entire basement as a part of the process.
52. Learn the names of every employee who works at my school.
I learned the name of one new person in February. I’m now in the process of counting the number of people whose names I don’t know.
53. Assemble a complete toolbox.
Progress! I ordered almost all of the necessary tools and a box in which to organize them. I need to gather the stray tools around the house, consolidate everything into one place, and rid myself of redundant tools.
54. Edit our wedding footage into a movie of the day.
No progress.
55. Memorize three new poems.
I have nearly memorized “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost, which is longer than you think.
I can also perform the poem in ASL.
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.