"BABE!!!," she repeated.

It was 2 AM.

Her due date wasn't for 10 more days, but this baby could come any minute.

"Babe?" I said,

"Did your water break?"

"No... but – "

Groans and "Aaaaahhhhhhhh's" interrupted

I put my hand on her and gently rubbed her back and neck.

"AHHHHHHHHHH"

"Oh My God, Oh my God" she repeated, in the kind of pain I've seen before with the births of our older kids.

Well, this might be it. I thought. Lol it's gonna be a looooong day.

It was 2 AM and I got into bed at 1 AM

(not my norm)

"I think you might need to pack your overnight bag, this baby might be coming"

More AHHH's and painstaking moans followed.

I kept rubbing her, half asleep. Earplugs in and eyemask still on.

CPAP machine still flowing.

The next thing I remember is waking up alone.

It was 7 or 8 am.

Go downstairs and everyone's eating breakfast.

Peaceful. And Quiet.

"Oh My god, I thought I was about to give birth last night, but you were so calm," she said

"Hmm... Yeah." I realized.

I know I was probably half asleep last night... but even if I was wide awake.

Having had 3 kids already, and knowing my wife, I knew that me panicking wasn't going to help.

I also know that you can't cross a bridge until you're actually in front of one.

Reader You might be wondering where I'm going with this...

On our refrigerator in the kitchen, we have a list of our "FAMILY VALUES"

I adjust them over time, but each night I repeat them to my sons as I get them to into bed

#5 on our list of Family Values is "Do the Next Right Thing"

It's one of my mantras that I live by.

As someone with an ADHD type of brain - my mind is always jumping from one thing to the next.

Reader Does any of this resonate with you so far?

When we worry or look too far into the future, our scatter brains get even more scattered.

If we don't decide that ONE THING to focus on in any given moment, our circumstances will decide on dozens of things for us to worry about.

This mantra can be applied in the gym, in the kitchen, in the workplace, even in the bedroom

When it's almost midnight and you're on the couch with a bag of potato chips on your 3rd straight episode of The Boys...

When you have a deadline for work but you have the sudden urge to clean the kitchen, your car, the closet, and mow the lawn, and start reading that productivity book you bought 6 months ago

When you're at the gym doomscrolling tiktok between sets with zero motivation to hit your next set

STOP.

Catch yourself slipping.

Tell yourself "Do the Next Right Thing"

Your Gut knows what that means.

It's usually the decision causing you the most discomfort

If that means hitting your next set... Set a rest timer - so you have a reminder to hit your next set.

If it's GETTING TO BED... The next right thing is shutting the TV off.

If it's working on a specific project that truly feels like a thorn in your side...

you don't need to pull out your planner or to-do list and write it down along with 3-5 other things...

Just start doing it and don't think of the other things.

Anyway...

What the hell did this have to do with my wife almost delivering a baby in the middle of the night?

I don't know, but my Next Right Thing is getting this email out to you.

-Matt

P.S. Writing better emails is one of my BIG goals right now.

To work towards that, I'm writing daily emails on Lifting, Fitness, Fat Loss, and Lifestyle.

But I could use your help.

Go head and respond to this email.

Yes. Hit the reply button lol. (and add me as a contact/VIP in your email so you can see my response)

Reply back and let me know:

1) What's something you're struggling with on your nutrition or training?

2) Where are you right now with your fitness and where do you want to be 8 weeks , or 12 weeks, or 16 weeks from now?

3) What's holding you back from reaching your goals?

I'll send you back a personal thank you, and write future newsletters based on the responses I get.