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 October 2026.
PERSONAL FITNESS/ATHLETICS
1. Don’t die.
So alive today.
I also saw a dermatologist in October and got a clean bill of health.
I’ll live forever or die trying.
2. Lose 10 pounds.
Done!
Held steady in October. Nothing lost, and nothing gained.
I’ve lost 21 pounds so far in 2026.
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 got the job done.
A total of 14 days of push-ups in October.
4. Complete 100 sit-ups three times per week.
Done.
Also 14 days of sit-ups in October.
5. Cycle or ruck for at least five days every week.
I rode my bike — outdoors or indoors — on 28 days in October, including 11 rides in hotel fitness centers.
I also went rucking on six days in October, including rucking in San Francisco, Long Beach, and Windsor, UK.
Crushed the month.
6. Try at least three new vegetables I have never eaten before or do not like.
Done!
I tried jicama, arugula, and zucchini 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.
Current average putts per hole through November is 1.91.
That’s an average of 34.5 putts per 18 holes.
8. Average 180 yards per drive by the end of 2026.
More progress! Excluding shots directly into the trees, I averaged 171 yards per drive in October.
I’m consistently hitting range balls 190 yards and farther, too, and when I hit the fairway and get a roll, my tee shots often approach 200 yards. Unfortunately, I’m not hitting enough fairways.
WRITING CAREER
9. Complete my ninth novel.
Work continues. Slowly.
10. Write, edit, and revise my golf memoir.
Work has begun on the revision. Also slowly.
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. Will I need to convince her otherwise? Or maybe self-publish?
13. Exceed 100 paid subscribers to my Substack.
I lost one paid subscriber in October, for a total of 43.
I also have 4,750 unpaid subscribers. That’s a decrease of 4 in October.
14. Read and process The Heavy Metal Playhouse notebook.
Work has begun. It’s been joyous. I’ve been writing about the progress on this blog.
15. Write my “Advice for Kids” book.
Progress continues. Slowly.
16. Find an idea and begin writing my next middle-grade novel.
Done. I identified the idea and began writing.
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 sent it to a third person who really likes it.
Now what?
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.
It’s nearly done in rough-draft form. I like it a lot.
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.
I wrote a letter to my father in October.
Two so far in 2026.
24. Write 150 letters.
Done!
I wrote 17 letters in October:
One to Clara’s dentist, three to authors, one to a friend, one to a former student, and 11 to clients.
I’ve written 221 letters so far this year.
25. Write to at least six authors about a book I love.
Done! I wrote to three authors in November, bringing my total to six.
The list includes:
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”
Children’s author Cynthia Ryland
Tom Coyne, author of many golf memoirs
Victor Sweeney, mortician and author of “Now Departing”
STORYTELLING/SPEAKING CAREER
26. Record and publish at least 25 videos on my YouTube channel.
Done!
We published two new videos in October.
We posted 28 videos in 2026.
And for the last six 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 co-produced The Great Hartford Story Slam on October 3 at Hartford Flavor Company
We produced another show on October 13 at the Connecticut Museum of Culture and History.
We have shows scheduled for 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 they accepted it. I did that talk in April.
Huzzah.
30. Attend at least eight Moth events with the intention of telling a story.
Done!
I attended two more Moth StorySLAMS in October—in NYC and San Francisco.
My name remained stubbornly in the hat both times.
A total of 13 so far in 2026.
31. Win at least one Moth StorySLAM.
Done!
I won a Moth StorySLAM in San Francisco, making it the fifth city in which I have won a StorySLAM.
Previous cities include New York, Boston, Seattle, and Washington, D.C.
I also won in NYC in September, bringing my total number of wins to 65.
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!
In October, I applied to the Winnipeg and Edmonton Fringe Festivals.
I’ve already applied to the Fringe in Orlando. These are some of the most prestigious and well-attended Fringe Festivals in North America.
I also 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
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, poorly, in Montreal in October.
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.
Four performances thus far in 2026.
36. Pitch three stories to This American Life.
No progress.
HOME
37. Organize the basement.
Slight progress.
38. Replace the floor in my office.
Flooring is chosen and paid for. It is being installed this week.
FAMILY/FRIENDS
39. Text or call my brother or sister once per month.
I texted (and saw!) my sister in October.
40. Bring my brother, sister, and me together at least once in 2026.
Done! We visited Southwick’s Zoo together in September.
41. Take at least one photo of my children every day.
Failed, but I was gone for three of four weeks in October, so my ability to take these photos was not possible.
42. Take at least one photo with Elysha and me each week.
Only one photo of Elysha and me in October.
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!
Two surprises for Elysha in October:
- I sent flowers to Elysha and flowers to her students in October while I was in Europe.
- I got off the plane from Chicago and went straight to her school with cookies for her and her colleagues.
A total of 25 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
- Dinner ready on the stove
- Dinner ready on the stove
- Garage door openers installed
- Goodie bag on her front seat
- Returned home a day early to surprise her.
- I sent flowers to Elysha and her students.
- I delivered cookies to Elysha and her colleagues.
46. Play poker at least six times.
No poker in October. A game is scheduled for December.
Five poker games so far in 2026.
47. Spend at least six days with my best friend of more than 30 years.
Done!
I had dinner with Bengi twice in October, talking, eating, and plotting our next business venture.
That brings our total to eight 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 all of them, and I don’t know any songs entirely.
I’m nearly finished.
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’ve started outlining the course content.
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 November and December for volunteers who are willing to test out my methods,
I worked with my designer last week on slides for the first session.
53. Read at least 12 books.
Done!
In October, I read:
“Actually, Nevermind” by Taylor Tomlinson
“Now Departing” by Victor Sweeney
“The Lion Tracker’s Guide to Life” by Boyd Varty
“Make Believe” by Mac Barrett
I’m currently reading:
“The American Way of Killing” by Malcolm Gladwell
“The 109 Rules of Storytelling” by Jeremy Connell Waite
I’ve read 25 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
“A Course Called Home” by Tom Coyne
“Make Believe” by Mac Barnett
“The War of Art” by Steven Pressfield
“How to Trust and Be Trusted” by Rachel Botsman
“Artemis” by Andy Weir
“Actually, Nevermind” by Taylor Tomlinson
“Now Departing” by Victor Sweeney
“The Lion Tracker’s Guide to Life” by Boyd Varty
“Make Believe” by Mac Barrett
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
I made no progress in October, 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. Since I stopped teaching, my access to children’s books is exceptionally limited.
Any suggestions?
57. Edit our wedding footage into a movie of the day.
No progress.
58. Memorize three new poems.
I am still memorizing “Oh me! Oh Life!” by Walt Whitman and am still 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.
Done!
I sent letters and emails to four different organizations—my former Scout troop, two different Scouting councils, and the national organization.
I await word on their decision.
60. Complete at least five Duolingo lessons every day.
Done. I far exceeded this goal, completing 256 lessons in October, for an average of about 8 per day.
61. Post my progress regarding these resolutions on this blog and social media on the first day of every month.
Done.
