Ever since Beau was old enough to leave the house, we have found ourselves at Griggs Coffee in Montoursville with my new group of friends.

When you become a dad, or a parent in general, there is a joke that the moment you leave the hospital, you think, “How did they let me take this thing home without an instruction manual?”

And honestly — at first, it is tough.

There are sleepless nights. Constant worry. A lot of second-guessing yourself. It can feel overwhelming at times.

That is why I wanted to write this article and simply say thank you to the Griggs breakfast crew.

Craig. Barry. Billy. Mark. And my buddy Pat, who recently even hooked me up with an air conditioner.

You guys have helped me more than you probably realize.

What started as Beau and me sitting at the table next to them while I quietly listened to their conversations slowly turned into something more.

Over time, they invited us into the group. They made us feel welcome. They made us feel like we belonged.

Some mornings, they even volunteer to hold Beau while I eat my breakfast.

It may seem like a small thing, but it means a lot.

It gave Beau and me a routine. It gave us a place to start our mornings.

And it gave me a group of people to learn from, laugh with, and simply enjoy spending time around.

I would also be remiss if I did not give a shoutout to the incredible staff at Griggs.

Mary Jo has been great. She will walk Beau around the restaurant, and before you know it, he thinks he works there and is helping wait tables.

Marcy is always smiling and excited to see him, and the rest of the staff make a point of coming over to say hello.

All the servers and kitchen staff are great, and they all love Beau.

That is something special.

Griggs has that old-school diner feel where everyone knows your name — those places seem harder and harder to find these days.

Every morning when Beau and I walk through those doors and meet up with Grandpa, it reminds me that sometimes the best parts of life are the simplest ones.

Good coffee. Good people. Good conversation.

So what is the lesson in all of this?

I think it goes back to something I learned years ago from Stephen Covey’s book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. One of his habits is, “Seek first to understand, then to be understood.” In other words, listen first.

I think a lot of us, especially when we are younger, feel like we always have to have the answer or be the one talking. I did the opposite.

When Beau and I first started going to Griggs, I sat at the table next to those guys and mostly just listened. I listened to their stories. I listened to their advice. I listened to them joke with each other and solve the world’s problems over a cup of coffee.

Over time, they invited me into the conversation. Now, when they ask my opinion, I am happy to share it.

But I think earning the opportunity to speak started by being willing to listen. There is a lot of wisdom sitting around that breakfast table.

I am thankful that Beau gets to grow up around people like that.

The other lesson is kind of funny, but I am actually serious about it.

Get up early. Do not sleep the day away. Better yet, make time for yourself before work.

I think a lot of people get into a routine of waking up, going straight to work, coming home, going to bed, and then doing it all over again the next day. Before long, it feels like life is just passing you by.

I have found that getting up early gives me something hard to find later in the day. Time.

By the time I get to work, I already feel like I have accomplished something. It changes your mindset.

You are not spending your whole day reacting to everything around you. You are starting your day with intention.

“Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future.” — Proverbs 19:20