I gave up another life to be a father

I was a single bar hoping mess before I met my wife. I lived in a house with 4-5 other people living there for a 1/5 of the rent and utilities. Worked at a dead end retail store job stocking shelves in the night and riding my sting ray bike during the day to a coffee shop to read a book. Although I was making half the income I do now, I was able to set aside money for things like a cell phone, gym membership, no car payment and tanning on Wednesdays. I even had a time I lived off my checking account for 3 months without cashing a check. They accumulated under my calendar pinned with a thumbtack in my bedroom. I was extremely self sufficient in those days and was depressed about my lack of future. No steady girlfriend, no children and no future.....

Now I look at my life, and I have none of those luxuries I gave up. But what I do have is a daughter's smile that makes me melt each and every time I see her. I great wife that is there for me even when I don't deserve it, a son coming and a future full of promise. My life is way more complicated, but I hope I never have to go back to the old life.