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 June.
PERSONAL FITNESS/ATHLETICS
1. Don’t die.
My blood work came back. Slightly elevated cholesterol. I’ll be increasing my oatmeal and fruit intake and start exercising harder.
I’m also still dealing with an inflamed airway after being stuck in Brooklyn as a building burned beside my car. It would be great to stop coughing.
2. Lose 10 pounds.
Two pounds gained in June. Good job, Matt.
A total of two pounds down so far.
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.
I completed 25 rides in June — a mix of indoor and outdoor.
A total of 151 rides so far this year.
7. Try at least three new vegetables I have never eaten before or do not like.
No progress.
8. Get a DEXA Scan and VO2 Max test at least once in 2025.
Appointments are scheduled this week.
9. Lower my handicap to 19.9.
I played ten rounds of golf in June, and my handicap remains at 25.3.
My last two rounds have been atrocious. I’ve made a change to my swing (on the advice of my coach) that is ruining my game and making golf a lot harder in the short run.
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.
No progress.
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 my father a birthday card in March.
One letter so far this year.
18. Write 150 letters.
A total of 36 letters were written in June to students, their siblings, colleagues, fans, clients, conference organizers, and Clara.
A total of 127 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.
Four videos were posted in June. A total of 19 videos have been posted in 2025 so far.
Thanks to my production manager, my YouTube channel is really taking off.
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.
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.
Two shows were produced in June:
June 7 at the Mark Twain House
June 28 at Hartford Flavor Company
We have produced five shows in 2025 so far:
- January 11 at the Connecticut Museum for 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
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.
I attended one Moth StorySLAM in June. Sadly, my name remained stubbornly in the bag.
I also brought two friends to a StorySLAM in NYC, only to discover we were at the wrong venue.
A total of six 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.
No progress in June.
I’ve performed stand-up once in 2025.
33. Pitch three stories to This American Life.
No progress.
34. Submit at least three pitches to Marc Maron’s WTF podcast.
No progress, but Maron has announced the end of his podcast in the fall, so time is sadly running out.
35. Send a newsletter to readers at least 50 times.
Done!
Five newsletters were sent in June to my Storyworrhy audience, plus 12 to my Substack audience.
Check out my Substack here
https://substack.com/@matthewdicks
I’ve sent 50 newsletters so far in 2025.
HOME
36. Organize the basement.
More progress! Bins cleared. More furniture 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.
A new shed has been purchased. Permitting is complete. Arrival time is 4-6 weeks.
38. Refinish the hardwood floors.
I’m writing this newsletter while sitting on a stool in an empty room.
The workers arrive today to begin the work.
FAMILY/FRIENDS
39. Travel to Europe.
Still waiting on possible speaking tour dates to Australia, Germany, and Saudi Arabia before we finalize European dates.
We may opt to travel to someplace other than Europe this summer.
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.
Except for days when I was away and unable to take the photograph, done.
43. Take at least one photo with Elysha and me each week.
I only took one photo with Elysha and me in June.
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 June:
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 played at least a dozen sessions of online poker again on a legal, sweepstakes-based website. Small stakes. I’m very much in the black thus far.
48. Spend at least six days with my best friend of more than 30 years.
No progress.
MUSIC
49. Memorize the lyrics to at least five favorite songs.
No progress.
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.
I read one book in June:
“The User’s Guide to Storytelling” by Doug O’Brien
I’ve read 11 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
55. Finish reading TIME’s 100 Best Children’s Books of All Time.
No progress in June.
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.
