Secrets to Being an Epic Dad - Insights from a Year of Writing Daily

This week’s newsletter is a celebration and a reflection on a year of daily writing. Let's dive in!

First, I can’t believe how fast a year went. This is my 53rd newsletter since I started on July 1, 2022.

I'm incredibly grateful to all of you who have been part of this journey.

Throughout this past year, the practice of working on myself, writing every day and sharing content multiple times a week has taught me invaluable lessons.

It has made me a better dad, husband, son, friend, and colleague.

It's like embarking on a backyard landscaping project—sometimes ambiguous, seemingly never-ending, but once you take the first step, the results are astonishing and inspire you to do even more.

The effort I've invested in self-work has paid off in countless ways.

I feel healthier, more composed (well, most of the time), and deeply connected with myself and my loved ones.

I've also found that I communicate more clearly, which has strengthened my relationships.

All the self-work (including things like meditation and gratitude journaling), I found these three things are my favorite:

1\ I wake up early to indulge in an hour of quiet time for myself—reading, writing, or simply enjoying the tranquility.

2\ I stick to my five-day-a-week gym routine, which has had a tremendous impact on my overall well-being.

3\ Writing daily has become a release, allowing me to express my thoughts and work through the anxieties of life and fatherhood.

So after one year I figured I would set some intentions for the next year.

1\ I intend to maintain my consistency with quiet time, hitting the gym, and writing. These practices have become the pillars of my self-improvement journey, and I can't wait to see where they take me.

2\ I've realized that I've fallen into a pattern of consuming news or watching YouTube shorts more mornings before heading to the gym. To break this habit, I'm committing to reading more. It's time to fill my mornings with enriching books that ignite my imagination and broaden my perspectives.

3\ I've set my sights on that money. Well more specifically, financial sovereignty. I firmly believe that achieving true freedom of time for myself, my family, and the things I love—like fishing, foraging, hunting, and traveling—requires a greater focus on financial freedom.

Over the next year, I will embark on a journey to find, evaluate, and eventually purchase a profitable business. This endeavor feels particularly timely, given the wave of retiring business owners.

If you're interested in joining me on this adventure, let me know, and I'll provide updates every 4 to 6 weeks.

Thank you again for being part of my writing journey.

Your support and engagement have been invaluable, and I'm excited to continue sharing my experiences and insights with you all. Stay tuned for more and keep those dad jokes alive!

Cheers,

Matt