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 September.
PERSONAL FITNESS/ATHLETICS
1. Don’t die.
I had dental surgery in September and survived.
I’m still going to live forever.
2. Lose 10 pounds.
Two more pounds gained in September, primarily because I couldn’t exercise for more than a week because of my dental surgery.
Weird but true.
I was also forced to eat pasta, ice cream, and other less-than-ideal foods for a week.
I’m plus six pounds for 2025.
3. Do a targeted push-up workout at least four times per week.
I skipped eight days post-surgery on the orders of my doctor. Otherwise done.
4. Complete 100 sit-ups four times per week.
I skipped eight days post-surgery on the orders of my doctor. Otherwise done.
5. Complete three one-minute planks four times a week.
I skipped eight days post-surgery on the orders of my doctor. Otherwise done.
6. Cycle for at least five days every week.
I completed 16 rides in September — a mix of indoor and outdoor. A low number for me, but surgery kept me off the bike for ten days and I’ve begun rucking, which has replaced the bike on some days.
A total of 184 rides so far this year.
Five rides per week means I should have at least 260 rides by the end of the year. If I continue to do five rides per week for the rest of the year, I’ll come up about 16 rides short, so I’ll need to increase the number of rides per week or begin doing more than one ride per day.
7. Try at least three new vegetables I have never eaten before or do not like.
I ate my first gooseberry back in July, which is not a vegetable.
Otherwise, no progress.
Any suggestions?
8. Get a DEXA Scan and VO2 Max test at least once in 2025.
Done!
9. Lower my handicap to 19.9.
I played 9 rounds of golf in September.
My handicap remains at 27.8.
I am, however, making legitimate progress on my swing.
WRITING CAREER
10. Complete my eighth novel.
Done another round of editing. Off to my editor again!
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.
I have an excellent children’s book idea that I will begin shortly.
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.
No letters in September.
Two letters so far this year.
18. Write 150 letters.
Done!
A total of 7 letters were written in September to students, former students, colleagues, and friends.
A total of 163 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.
Done!
Four videos were posted in September. A total of 31 videos have been posted in 2025 so far.
Thanks to my production manager, my YouTube channel is really taking off.
We’ve also launched my TikTok channel. One of my stories has 1.6 million views. Others have hundreds of thousands of views.
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.
We’ve also just launched a brand new version of our website.
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.
No shows were produced in September.
We have produced five shows in 2025 so far:
- January 11 at the Connecticut Museum of 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
We have upcoming shows on October 11, November 3, and November 8.
26. Submit pitches to at least three upcoming TEDx events, hoping to be accepted by one.
Done! I’ll be performing a TEDx event in May of 2026.
27. Attend at least eight Moth events with the intention of telling a story.
Done!
I attended one Moth StorySLAM in September. My name remained stubborn in the bag.
A total of ten 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 stand-up in September.
I’ve performed stand-up three times in 2025.
33. Pitch three stories to This American Life.
No progress.
34. Submit at least three pitches to Marc Maron’s WTF podcast.
Done.
To my surprise, Maron announced that his podcast is coming to an end in the fall, so my chances of making this dream come true are gone.
35. Send a newsletter to readers at least 50 times.
Done!
Between my two Substacks and my regular newsletters, a total of 32 newsletters were sent in September.
Check out my creativity and productivity Substack here
https://substack.com/@matthewdicks
Check out my Substack on an attempt to destroy my teaching career back in 2007 here:
https://anonymousattack.substack.com
I’ve sent 116 newsletters so far in 2025.
HOME
36. Organize the basement.
More progress! Bins cleared. More furniture was 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.
Done! The shed has been installed.
38. Refinish the hardwood floors.
Done.
FAMILY/FRIENDS
39. Travel to Europe.
We’ve decided to travel to Montreal and Quebec City instead of Europe this year.
I’m counting this as a completed task, given my goal was really to travel out of the country with my family.
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.
Done.
43. Take at least one photo with Elysha and me each week.
Done.
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 September, but surprises are in the works.
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 also played dozens of sessions of online poker again on a legal, sweepstakes-based website.
I’m in the black.
48. Spend at least six days with my best friend of more than 30 years.
No time spent together in September.
I’ve taken two walks with Bengi in 2025.
MUSIC
49. Memorize the lyrics to at least five favorite songs.
Currently working on memorizing “The Final Countdown.”
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.
Done!
I read one book in September:
“The Gunslinger” by Stephen King (re-read)
I’m currently reading:
“Sicker in the Head” by Judd Apatow
“Walden” by Henry David Thoreau
“This Beautiful Day” by Fred Rogers
“Food: A Love Story” by Jim Gaffigan
The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo (re-read)
“The Drawing of the Three” by Stephen King (re-read)
I’ve read 17 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
“Keep Going” by Austin Kleon
“Show Your Work” by Austin Kleon
“Big Dumb Eyes” by Nate Bartgatze
“Never Flinch” by Stephen King
“Lyrics to Live By” by Mitch Taylor
“The Art of Winning” by Bill Belichick
“The Gunslinger” by Stephen King
55. Finish reading TIME’s 100 Best Children’s Books of All Time.
No progress in September.
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.
