Happy New Year, everyone. It’s been a couple of weeks since my last post, and if I’m honest, life has been a whirlwind lately. The holidays, workouts, and, well, something big happening tomorrow have kept me pretty occupied. Let me catch you up.

If you’ve been following along, you know about Greg. We first met when I stopped to help him change a flat tire, and not long after, we bumped into each other at the coffee shop. That’s when I invited him to come work out in the basement gym with me and Jeff. It felt like a small gesture at the time—just offering a space to sweat and talk—but it’s turned into something much bigger than I expected.

Tomorrow, Greg is moving into the house.

When Greg first brought up the idea of moving in, I suggested he take some time to think it over. Big decisions like this can feel exhilarating in the moment, but they come with weight, and I wanted him to have the space to consider all of that. We left it at that.

A few days later, Greg came back with his decision. He’d already spoken to his landlord about breaking his lease and was set on moving in by January 1st. One minute we were talking about taking time to reflect, and the next he’d practically hit fast-forward. Frankly, I’m surprised he didn’t show up in a U-Haul. He looked at me with this mix of determination and hope, and I couldn’t help but crack a smile at how boldly he’d made up his mind.

Jeff and I talked about it afterward. Jeff, in his calm and intuitive way, said something like, “It feels right. Sometimes you just know.” I’ve always admired Jeff’s ability to trust his gut in moments like this. I, on the other hand, tend to overthink—question whether I’m ready, whether the timing’s right, whether we’re even equipped to do this. But seeing Greg’s conviction made me pause. Maybe Jeff was right. Maybe Greg saw something in this house, in the Brotherhood, that even I’m still figuring out.

That said, the last couple of weeks have been… busy. Getting the house ready, clearing space for Greg, figuring out how three grown men are going to share one kitchen—it’s been a lot. I’ll admit, I’ve leaned into my usual habits of order and structure a little too hard. Jeff’s called me out more than once for being, in his words, “Taskmaster Matt.” As if everyone doesn’t color-code chore charts and time furniture placement like it’s a military operation! I guess the nickname is his way of keeping me from taking myself too seriously. I have to admit that it worked.

Greg brings this energy that’s hard to describe. It’s equal parts “oops I pushed all the buttons. . . let’s see what happens” and “can you show me how this works?” There’s a puppy-dog eagerness to him that’s both endearing and, frankly, a little overwhelming at times. But underneath that, I see someone who’s searching for guidance, for belonging, for something steady to hold onto. I see myself, in a way—a version of me I thought I’d left behind but realize is still there in smaller ways.

Tomorrow marks a new chapter for the Brotherhood. Greg’s decision to move in feels like the kind of leap you don’t take unless you really believe in something. It’s humbling, honestly. Inspiring, too. A small part of me feels validated—like maybe we’re onto something here—but you won’t catch me wagging my own tail about it. And while we still don’t have all the answers about what this community is going to look like, I’m starting to think that’s okay.

For now, we’re taking it one step at a time. Starting the year together feels like the perfect place to begin.

~ Matthew 🌳