Dear Family,

I’ve been paying more attention to the things I tell myself.

Sometimes the voice inside my head is encouraging. Other times… it’s not.

There are moments, quiet ones, when I find myself feeling guilty for working as much as I do.

The voice says things like: “You’re missing moments you’ll never get back.”

And for a second, I pause. I wonder if I’m doing the right thing. But then I look around. I see Christian smiling. I hear Madison breathing softly in the next room. I feel the peace in our home.

And I remind myself, this didn’t happen by accident.

It came from sacrifice. From years of 5 AM alarms, skipped vacations, and weekends that looked more like workdays than rest. From saying no to quick wins so we could build something that lasts.

There were seasons I poured everything into LUX, not because I didn’t love my family, but because I do.

Because I wanted to make sure when the time came, we’d be in a position to welcome Madison into a world full of stability, love, and options. So when that voice of doubt creeps in? I stop and ask:

Where’s this coming from? Is this truth… or just old baggage talking?

Negative self-talk is sneaky. It disguises itself as humility or realism, but most of the time, it’s fear dressed up like wisdom. And if you let it take the wheel, it’ll drive you away from the very life you’re working to build.

That’s why I’ve learned to be suspicious of it.

These days, when it shows up, I hear it… I thank it for trying to protect me…

And then I keep going.

Because what I’ve built, what we’re building, is worth it.

From LUX, With love,

Matt