Welcome to the Daily Dad podcast, where we provide one lesson every single day to help you with your most important job, being a parent.

I'm Ryan Holiday, and I draw these lessons from ancient philosophy, modern psychology, practical wisdom, and

insights from parents just like you all over the world.

Thank you for listening, and we hope this helps.

Having these kids has changed your life.

There are so many things you used to do that you no longer can.

Traveling without notice, staying out all night, sleeping on airplanes, sleeping in at all.

You used to have so much more energy for your job, for your friends.

You used to have time to do lots of things, and now it's a real crapshoot

whether you'll get a shower in today, let alone keep up with the ambitious upstarts coming

behind you. So let's not be sanguine about the sacrifices that this decision has required you to

make. But these days, society does a pretty good job discussing all the costs,

financial, physical, social, having kids. You see it in every article about the celebrity or

artist who chooses not to have a family. You see it in the arguments of every activist or politician

who pleads for sympathy for working parents.

What seems to get mentioned much less often is what you've been given as a result of becoming

a father, the wondrous happiness you feel despite all the disruption.

One doesn't tend to associate kids with peace, the venture capitalist Paul Graham observed recently

in his fantastic essay

about being a parent. But that's what you feel. You don't need to look any further than where

you are right now. All those ordinary moments playing in the yard, getting pummeled while they

jump in your bed in the morning, watching TV on the couch, being a family.

...