Hey, everyone. Matthew here. Welcome to the blog. I’ve been thinking about starting something like this for a while now, and thanks to some nudges from Jeff, we’re finally putting thoughts into words. Right now, it’s just the two of us in the Brotherhood, and this blog is our way of opening up a bit, sharing our thoughts, insights, and maybe some hard-earned lessons on building strength, both physically and mentally, in a way that aligns with our values.

Jeff’s got the Instagram page covered, so if you’re looking for photos, he’s your guy. He’s got an eye for those moments, those snippets of life that catch the energy of what we’re building together. I’m not as comfortable with the picture side of things. In fact, you won’t see many photos of me here. Maybe it’s a weird hang-up, but sometimes images feel… like they’re trying to flatten us out, turn us into versions of ourselves that don’t always ring true. It’s something I’ll be grappling with here—a part of myself that’s still figuring things out.

So, what’s this blog for? I guess it’s about building something real in a world where so much can feel forced or shallow. The Brotherhood wasn’t created just to lift weights and build muscle. Those things are crucial to us, don’t get me wrong. But it’s about building something solid with someone who shares the same values—something that goes deeper than physical strength alone.

Growing up, I didn’t always have the kind of influence I needed to become the person I wanted to be. There are parts of me that I’m still trying to reshape, pieces I need to unlearn. I’m not ready to go into all the details yet, but let’s just say I’ve spent a lot of years trying to figure out what it means to be strong without sacrificing who I am or who I want to become. Part of this journey, for me, is finding a way to be strong without stepping on others.

I’m not sure how often I’ll post here or how far I’ll get into my own story. But if I’ve learned anything from working with Jeff, it’s that honesty is a form of strength too. It’s not easy, but I’m learning. And maybe by opening up here, by putting some of this into words, I can shed a little light for others who are trying to navigate similar paths.

So, if you’re here reading this, thanks for joining us. We’re both learning, both pushing, both figuring out what it means to be strong without losing ourselves in the process. Maybe you’ll find something here that resonates with you, too.

~ Matthew 🌳