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 January 2026.
PERSONAL FITNESS/ATHLETICS
1. Don’t die.
No injuries. No near-death moments.
A lovely January.
2. Lose 10 pounds.
I lost four pounds in January. I’d like to credit a strong work ethic and improved dietary choices, but it’s likely the elimination of holiday cookies and similar treats played a significant role.
But I had a meeting with my new doctor to discuss my health. Apparently, I need to eat a lot more protein, and that will oddly translate into weight loss.
I also need to reduce the intensity of my exercise routine and extend its length. Rather than killing myself for 20-30 minutes, a less intense 60-minute workout will do more to improve my VO2 max.
Who knew?
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.
On a positive note, my body scan shows a greater-than-average amount of muscle mass, so those push-ups are working.
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 29 of 31 days in January.
I also need to purchase a new bike. After riding mine almost every day for nearly six years, it needs a refresh.
6. Try at least three new vegetables I have never eaten before or do not like.
Thanks to my friend, Cindy, I tried zucchini in a pasta dish and didn’t hate it.
7. Average 2.1 putts per hole by the end of 2026.
I played golf with friends in Arizona earlier this month. My friend Jeff and I decided to compete on the number of putts per round as we played, which sharpened our focus and led to even fewer putts.
When you’ve ruined a hole with a terrible drive or an approach shot into a bunker, you tend to lose focus on those meaningless putts to finish off the hole, but when you’re still competing with those putts, you line things up more deliberatively, think longer about breaks, and maintain your putting routine.
We als putt everyting. Those gimme putts have no place in golf.
We will be competing for the fewest number of putts for the rest of our lives.
I averaged 2.05 putts per round in January. A fine start.
8. Average 180 yards per drive by the end of 2026.
I drove the ball well in Arizona (for me), but couldn’t measure my distance because I didn’t have my golf watch.
But it wasn’t great. I was putting the ball on the fairway most of the time, but the distance was not great. I probably averaged 150-160 yards per drive on my best drives.
I have a lot of work to do.
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.
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 added six paid subscribers in January. for a total of 50 so far in 2026. A good start.
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.
16. Find an idea and begin writing my next middle-grade novel.
I found two ideas, but I don’t love either one. Still searching, which is weird. Ideas are usually my superpower.
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.
At least half a dozen ideas have arrived in January, but the writing has yet to begin.
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.
22. Submit at least three Op-Ed pieces to The New York Times for consideration.
I was interviewed for the New York Times in January for a piece that will reference a blog post I wrote a decade ago. That piece will appear in the Times later this month.
I count this as one submission in 2026.
23. Write at least four letters to my father.
No progress.
24. Write 150 letters.
I wrote 15 letters in January to students, colleagues, clients, and friends.
A good start to the 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.
We recorded several YouTube videos in January and have posted one on the channel so far.
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. It may have been our largest audience at that venue — more than 160 people — despite the cold. It was also one of our best shows ever, featuring returning Speak Up favorites, storytellers from Houston and New Hampshire, and one brand-new storyteller.
29. Submit pitches to at least three upcoming TEDx events, hoping to be accepted by one.
No progress.
30. Attend at least eight Moth events with the intention of telling a story.
I attended two Moth StorySLAMs in January — both at The Bell House in NYC.
31. Win at least one Moth StorySLAM.
I told stories at both Moth StorySLAMs in January.
I went first and placed third in the first show.
I went sixth and placed second in the second show.
No victory yet. I think I should’ve won both times, but I’m a jerk like that.
32. Win a Moth GrandSLAM.
No progress. I was offered a chance to compete in the next Boston GrandSLAM, but I’m booked on that evening. I’ll need to wait 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.
No progress.
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. I was the organizer and host.
I know that sounds odd. The town has a population of 1,030 and a median age of 61. It was also -4 degrees at showtime, yet we had a standing-room-only event with another 30 or so people watching on Zoom.
It went much better than I thought.
36. Pitch three stories to This American Life.
No progress.
HOME
37. Organize the basement.
No progress.
38. Replace the floor in my office.
No progress.
FAMILY/FRIENDS
39. Text or call my brother or sister once per month.
I texted with my sister in January. 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.
Fail. No photos of just me and Elysha in January.
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 at her school on her birthday.
I personally delivered pastries to Elysha at her school to share with her team.
Two surprises so far in 2026.
46. Play poker at least six times.
I played live poker at Tom’s house. I was a winner of the evening but came in second in the end-of-evening tournament.
Still a profitable session.
One game of poker 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 January.
MUSIC
48. Memorize the lyrics to at least five favorite songs.
No progress, though I just realized that I have been singing a line from “Don’t Stop Believin” incorrectly for all my life.
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 did not finish reading a book in January. I am currently re-reading Stephen King’s “Wizard and Glass,” which is 928 pages long. I also had to re-read my own “Cardboard Knight” twice in January as part of the revision process, but that doesn’t count.
54. Read “To the Lighthouse” by Virginia Woolf.
I purchased a beautiful copy of the book.
55. Read “The Skyscraper Doom” by Norman Zierold.
No progress.
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.
No progress.
59. Explore the possibility of earning the rank of Eagle.
No progress.
60. Complete at least five Duolingo lessons every day.
Done. I dar exceeded this goal.
61. Post my progress regarding these resolutions on this blog and social media on the first day of every month.
Done.
