If I've learned one thing about myself being married with a kid on the way, it's that I lack a lot of intrinsic motivation to do anything productive. Left alon

If I've learned one thing about myself being married with a kid on the way, it's that I lack a lot of intrinsic motivation to do anything productive. Left alone I'll video-game and drink my way into an early grave. I need something to be responsible for to keep my self-destructive instincts in line. I only started working out consistently because a couple of years into marriage my wife made an ultimatum that she didn't want to have kids with someone who doesn't exercise. And as pissed off as I was in the moment I couldn't really argue with that. Being a dad (which was something I wanted) demands a certain level of health/energy to do well, never mind longevity, and I was rationalizing not working out on a weekly basis ("I'm too tired, won't be able to watch my form." "I'm still kinda sore from last time." "My foot hurts a little, better not push it", and other sorry excuses). To be fair I'd never worked out consistently in my life. I needed that kick in the ass to form the habit from scratch as an adult. Likewise I've steered myself away from many self-destructive impulses in the last few months simply because my soon-to-be daughter deserves something better than a tired, beaten-down bastion of mediocrity for a father. It's even helping my career, as I have to set an example for her and being a tuned-out clock puncher isn't what I want for her. Call it a pathetic lack of self esteem, or a natural lack of inhibition, but I've always been wired this way as long as I can remember. I need the responsibility, and even if I resent it in the moment I know by taking it on I'll end up in a better place, and the people I'm responsible for usually do better as well. Just offering an alternate perspective. Different people are wired differently.