My godmother asked me yesterday what it’s like to be a Dad.

I can say, with complete confidence, fatherhood is all about prioritizing coffee in the morning. Double shot cappuccinos FTW.

Of course, it’s so much more than that. It’s a difficult question to answer.

I’ve changed my statement of purpose in my Morning Saying: to showcase the wonder of our one world. This change is partly due to my refined vision for TAV, how I can take a unified approach in my writing, photography, and podcast. But it also reflects a change in my perception now that I’m a father. My purpose is to showcase the wonder of our one world to my daughter. To love her, and to teach her that we share an incredible world full of miracles, and that we must share it with everyone else, all the other people and living things on this planet. That will be my most important lesson as a father, because it is the most important lesson for all of us.

Your transitions into and out of sleep change. My baby is the first thing I think about when I open my eyes each morning, and the last thing I consider before closing them each night. A whole new perspective is open to me. I see the world through my father lens, pursuing everything so as to make my child’s life better.

There’s a recognition and appreciation for the journey. As a first time father, there are so many things I don’t know. I’m learning fatherhood in much the same way my daughter is learning about the world. This reciprocity is comforting because it’s an assurance we’re on the same journey together. There’s fear and worry in the journey, but also hope, and adventure and excitement, and the purest joy I have ever known. I know this will continue to be a journey for the rest of my life, and I am grateful for it. Maybe I will have to get that lion tattoo after all, about the journey of life.

There’s a confirmation in your choosing your partner. I’ve always been confident in my marriage and the person I’ve chosen, but raising a child together has validated our choice and our path. You’re not only life partners, but partners in raising your offspring, this miracle you’ve created together. It’s miraculous.

Most of all, fatherhood is about love. I feel so much love every day. I feel love when I’m on a run or off running errands. I feel love when rewashing the same bottle for the umpteenth time late at night. I feel love when changing diapers at 3am. Love has become my raison d’etre. Love is the driving force of being a dad, and the most abundant element of my life.

Fatherhood is amazing, and it’s surreal to know millions of other men around the planet are experiencing the same thing. It gives me hope for humanity. Just make sure you have the coffee ready.