Every month, I record my progress on 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 March.
PERSONAL FITNESS/ATHLETICS
1. Don’t die.
A tube in my ear has dislodged — yes, I’m a grown-ass man with tubes in his ears — so I lost my equilibrium and dropped to the ground like a sack of potatoes, nearly landing on one of my students, but she was in more danger of serious injury than me.
2. Lose 10 pounds.
I lost two pounds in March. Three overall.
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. Planks are super boring.
6. Cycle for at least five days every week.
I completed 28 rides in March. Two were actually outdoors as the weather is finally starting to improve.
7. Try at least three new vegetables I have never eaten before or do not like.
No progress. Does anyone want to suggest a vegetable?
8. Get a DEXA Scan and VO2 Max test at least once in 2025.
Local facility identified. The appointment will likely happen in the summer.
9. Lower my handicap to 19.9.
I took four golf lessons in March, and my progress is excellent. So many new things to master.
As temperatures warm, an actual round of golf is in my near future.
WRITING CAREER
10. Complete my eighth novel.
It’s begun! Only about 500 words, but the race is on!
11. Write, edit, and revise my golf memoir.
No progress.
12. Write my “Advice for Kids” book.
Solid progress. Closing in on completion.
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.
Work continues. I have an outline of the show and am now working on the stories, jokes, and transitions. I am sending material to my director for review.
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.
One letter so far this year.
18. Write 150 letters.
A total of 12 letters were written in March to neighbors, students, the parents of students, colleagues, and my daughter’s principal.
A total of 70 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.
The design is complete. Building has begun. I feel so lucky to have found such an ingenious, passionate, brilliant partner and friend to make this happen.
21. Record and publish at least 25 videos to my YouTube channel.
Four videos were posted in March. A total of seven posted so far in 2025.
Thanks to my production manager, my YouTube channel is really taking off.
22. Perform a new solo show.
Dates have been locked in: May 4 and 5 at TheaterWorks in Hartford.
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.
Courses have been determined. Recording begins soon.
25. Produce a total of six Speak Up storytelling events in 2025.
No shows were produced in March.
We have produced two shows in 2025:
- January 11 at the Connecticut Museum for History and Culture.
- February 7 at District in New Haven.
Our next show is slated for May.
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 two Moth StorySLAMs in March.
A total of three 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 opportunity 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 March.
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.
35. Send a newsletter to readers at least 50 times.
Five newsletters were sent in March.
I’ve sent 21 newsletters in 2025.
HOME
36. Organize the basement.
A smidgen of progress. Some additional items have been thrown away. I’m going to need Elysha’s assistance to complete this project.
36. Clear the garage of unwanted items.
Large items that were added in January are now gone via donation and the trash. We need a purchase a shed to remove most of the remaining items.
37. Replace our backyard shed.
I attempted to look at sheds last Sunday, but apparently, shed retailers are closed on Sunday afternoons.
38. Get the hardwood floors refinished.
The estimate was obtained, and work is scheduled for June.
FAMILY/FRIENDS
39. Travel to Europe.
Waiting on possible speaking tour dates to Australia, Germany, and Portugal before we finalize European dates.
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.
After two successful months, I only took one photo with Elysha and me in March.
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 surprise in March, that I can recall.
I’ve surprised Elysha three times in 2025:
- A surprise birthday party on January 4
- Post Valentine’s Day flowers
- Clever and amusing office supplies
47. Play poker at least six times.
I played poker twice with Charlie in March — both times using a video poker game on the plane.
I’ve also found a way to play poker online again if I so choose, though a live game is what I really want.
Two games of poker in 2025.
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 interviewing people for thoughts and ideas.
53. Develop a list of strategies to help people deal with loneliness and produce it in some form.
I’ve begun writing a book on the subject based on the list of strategies I am developing.
This was a surprise to me and my literary agent.
54. Read at least 12 books.
I read two books in March:
”Miracle and Wonder” by Bruce Headlam and Malcolm Gladwell
“Revenge of the Tipping Point” by Malcolm Gladwell
I’m currently reading:
”Factfulness” by Hans Rosling.
I’ve read 7 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
55. Finish reading TIME’s 100 Best Children’s Books of All Time.
No progress in March.
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.
The material was sent out for digitization. I await its return.
58. Memorize three new poems.
I memorized “Fire and Ice” by Robert Frost in March.
I’m currently memorizing “Trees” by Joyce Kilmer.
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
59. Post my progress regarding these resolutions on this blog and social media on the first day of every month.
Done.
