“You can’t complain about your plate being full if your goal is to eat.” That is a quote from Nick Bare, and I thought it was awesome.

I have mentioned before how much I enjoy listening to him, but this one really got me thinking.

Recently, just for fun, I did a “day in the life” on Snapchat and posted my schedule. I didn’t do it for attention. My hope was to show people what is possible when you are intentional with your time and focused on becoming the best version of yourself.

A thought popped into my head while driving Beau around.

I am a big fan of large, healthy meals. And when I have a big meal in front of me, I organize my plate with one goal in mind: to eat it.

I think that is how we should approach our days.

Organize your plate with the goal of eating. Attack the day. As they say, let the big dog eat.

Here is what that looks like for me.

My alarm goes off at 3:15.

I get up, take my morning supplements, get ready, and head to the gym.

I work out for about an hour and forty-five minutes.

Then I head home, shower, and read a book until Beau wakes up.

Once he is awake, my attention is on him.

We have a great morning together, and a lot of times we head to Dolly’s Diner for coffee with my dad.

After that, Beau and I usually go for a ride. We chat in the car, and eventually he falls asleep.

Then it is back home.

I read to him, put him in his play area, and head to work for the day.

After work, it is family time.

Lately, we have been eating at home more, and I absolutely love it.

Then we go for a family walk with Buck.

We come home, wind down, do bath time, and start the bedtime routine.

It is a full day.

And I love it.

The goal is not to stay busy.

The goal is to be the best you can be at whatever you are doing.

The best husband/wife you can be. The best dad/mom you can be. The best employee you can be. The best version of you.

I hear people say all the time that their prime is over. They are in their late twenties — maybe early thirties.

My response?

I hope I have not even entered my prime yet. I pray that I continue to get better. Physically. Mentally. Spiritually.

As a husband. As a father.

The goal is not to be arrogant or cocky.

I am sharing this because I want people to know it is possible.

You can improve your life. You can accomplish more than you think. You can become a better version of yourself.

Will it require sacrifice? Absolutely.

Some people will read this and immediately think, “There is no way I am waking up at 3:15.”

That is OK. You don’t have to.

The point is not my schedule. The point is being intentional with yours.

If you want something, organize your plate with the goal of eating. And then get to work.

I will leave you with something my father-in-law told me. I am paraphrasing because I do not remember it word-for-word, but the message stuck with me.

He said our generation needs strong, present, resilient fathers to raise the next generation.

I completely agree.

But I would take it one step further.

Our generation needs strong, present, resilient parents.

Moms and dads working together as a team.

Because at the end of the day, becoming the best version of yourself is not really about you.

It is about being the best version of yourself for the people who are counting on you.

“Be very careful, then, how you live — not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity.” ~ Ephesians 5:15-16