What Fatherhood Taught Me About Presence
Originally shared December 26, 2024 in the Naked Sunday Newsletter. Adapted for the journal.
As 2024 comes to a close, I’ve been reflecting on what this year has meant to me.
In August, my wife and I welcomed our daughter into the world.
Becoming a father has been the most humbling and rewarding experience of my life. It’s reshaped how I view success, purpose, and what truly matters.
Parenthood has taught me so much—and not always in the ways I expected.
Here’s what I’ve learned this year that’s changed how I approach my life, work, and relationships.
1. Presence Is Powerful
I’ve always been someone focused on the “next thing”—the next goal, the next project, the next move. But my daughter doesn’t care about what’s next. Her cries for food, a diaper change, or simply wanting my attention pull me back into the moment every time (and let me tell you, she can bring the house down when she wants to).
At first, I struggled with how this interrupted my productivity. I mean, how was I supposed to finish anything with this tiny human demanding my every waking moment? But over time, I realized being fully present with her wasn’t a distraction—it was the lesson I needed most.
Success isn’t about doing more—it’s about being intentional with your time and energy.
If you’ve ever felt like you’re constantly busy but not making real progress, this is a game-changer. When you stop living in the future or replaying the past, you free yourself to actually enjoy the present and make meaningful connections.
2. Boundaries Protect What Matters
With limited time and more responsibility, I had to let go of things that didn’t align with my values.
Whether it was saying no to certain opportunities, raising my standards for who I let into my circle, or doubling down on the relationships that matter most, setting boundaries has been empowering. And let’s be honest, if my daughter can scream until she gets what she wants, surely I can learn to say no once in a while.
Boundaries aren’t about shutting people out; they’re about protecting what matters most so you can give your best where it truly counts.
If you’ve struggled with feeling overcommitted, undervalued, or pulled in too many directions, this lesson is for you. Setting boundaries is one of the most powerful ways to take back your energy and focus on what truly matters.
3. Letting Go Brings Freedom
The hardest, most recurring lesson I’ve faced this year is letting go.
Letting go of control.
Letting go of perfectionism.
Letting go of the belief that I have to do it all.
This hasn’t been easy. I’ve had to confront my own insecurities and learn to trust more—trusting my relationships, my process, and myself. And trust me, nothing tests your patience and your “let-it-go” muscles like being covered in spit-up moments before a Zoom call.
What I’ve found, though, is that those moments of imperfection have brought me closer to the people around me.
When I stopped trying to be perfect and simply showed up as myself—spit-up stains and all—something surprising happened…
People saw me as more human.
They trusted me more. And more often than not, they wanted to help.
It’s a humbling reminder that when you let go of trying to do it all, you make space for others to step in, for connection to deepen, and for growth to happen.
If you’ve ever felt like you’re carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders, this might be the reminder you need. Letting go doesn’t mean giving up—it means making space for what truly matters.
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Until next time…
Love. Every. Body.
