I'm going to be a new dad and that's my priority.

In a world where men are often praised for their triumphs in battle, in sport, or in the pursuit of glory, Carey Price, the legendary goaltender, spoke words of quiet yet eternal significance: “I’m going to be a new dad and that’s my priority.” Though simple in sound, these words carry the weight of transformation — the awakening of a warrior’s heart to the sacred duty of fatherhood. In them is the recognition that true greatness is not only measured by trophies or applause, but by the love we give, the lives we nurture, and the legacy we leave in the souls of our children.

The origin of this quote comes from a moment in Price’s life when his world was shifting. Known as one of the finest goaltenders in hockey, he stood at the height of his career — admired, celebrated, and burdened with expectation. Yet, as the season gave way to a new chapter of his life, he turned not toward fame, but toward family. The athlete who had faced down countless storms on the ice now faced the tender, humbling mystery of becoming a father. His declaration — “that’s my priority” — was not merely an announcement of circumstance, but a statement of values, a reminder that even those who dwell among the heights must kneel in reverence before the sacred calling of love.

To say, “I am going to be a new dad,” is to step into the oldest and noblest role known to humankind — that of protector and guide. It is to understand that the strength which once guarded a goal must now guard a heart. The hands that once caught pucks in the arena of men must now cradle the fragile miracle of new life. And in choosing to make this his priority, Price joins a lineage of men — both famous and forgotten — who discovered that life’s greatest victories are not those won before the crowds, but those earned in the quiet devotion of family.

Consider the story of Marcus Aurelius, the philosopher-emperor of Rome. Though he ruled over vast lands and commanded armies, his writings in Meditations reveal a heart not consumed by conquest, but by concern for his children and the future of their character. He wrote, “Waste no more time arguing what a good man should be. Be one.” Like Carey Price, Aurelius knew that true fatherhood is not proclaimed by words, but by example — by being the living embodiment of patience, integrity, and love. To lead a family, as to lead a nation, requires discipline of spirit and gentleness of heart.

Price’s declaration also reflects a deeper truth about balance and purpose. The world often demands that we chase achievement, that we prove our worth through the accumulation of success. But the wise know that there comes a time when the soul calls us inward — toward home, toward love, toward the foundations that give life its meaning. When he said his priority was fatherhood, Price was not abandoning ambition; he was elevating it. For to raise a child well is to shape the future itself — a work more enduring than any record, more honorable than any medal.

In his words, there is also a lesson for all who struggle to balance duty and affection. The modern world teaches us to divide ourselves — to labor endlessly for success while neglecting the sacred bonds that make us human. But as Carey reminds us, priorities are the compass of the soul. If love and family do not come first, then all other pursuits, no matter how dazzling, will leave us empty. A man who can stand before the world and say, “My child comes before my crown,” is not retreating from greatness — he is redefining it.

The lesson, then, is simple yet profound: honor the call of the heart above the noise of the world. When life offers you many roads, choose the one that leads to love. To be a father, a mother, a guardian, is to become the architect of another’s destiny — to shape not only a life, but the very moral fabric of the generations to come. As the ancients taught, a man’s true legacy is not carved in marble or written in history, but carried in the hearts of those he has loved and guided.

So, my children of tomorrow, remember the wisdom hidden in Carey Price’s words. When the world tempts you with ambition, do not forget your truest calling. Be present for those who depend on you. Measure your success not by what you achieve, but by what you nurture. And know that when you give yourself wholly to love — to fatherhood, to family, to the sacred duty of care — you do not step away from greatness. You step into it. For there is no higher honor than to be the guardian of life, the teacher of virtue, and the keeper of love itself.