Jeff said something to me yesterday that I haven’t been able to shake. He’s been running the Instagram for The Brotherhood, and he told me he’s started to notice something different when he looks at the posts. “It’s like there’s more going on here than just us,” he said.

At first, I brushed it off. I told him it’s just pictures, captions, and hashtags—it’s not that deep. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized he’s right. There is something else.

I don’t know exactly how to explain it, but I’ve been feeling it too. It’s subtle, like a hum in the background that’s been growing louder. It’s this sense that what we’re doing here—this thing we’re trying to build—isn’t just about the two of us anymore.

When I started writing this blog, it was mostly for me. I needed a place to put my thoughts, to try and figure out what I’m doing, where I’m going, and how to get there. But now, I’m starting to feel like these words aren’t just mine. They belong to anyone who reads them, anyone who finds a piece of themselves in them.

And maybe that’s what Jeff was getting at. This isn’t just about us lifting weights or posting pictures or writing blog entries. It’s about the connections we’re starting to make—the ones we didn’t even realize we were making.

I’ll be honest: that idea scares me a little. I’m not sure I’m ready for this to be bigger than me, or bigger than us. But at the same time, it feels… right. Like maybe this was never supposed to stay small. Maybe we’re tapping into something bigger than ourselves—something we don’t fully understand yet.

For now, all I can do is pay attention. To the things Jeff says, to the way I feel when I write these posts, to the quiet moments when it feels like something is shifting, even if I can’t put my finger on it.

Maybe strength isn’t just about being strong for yourself. Maybe it’s about being part of something that makes everyone stronger.

I don’t know. I’m still figuring it out. But I think Jeff’s onto something.

~ Matthew 🌳