I thought about skipping this post again.
But the truth is, this week wasn’t normal—and pretending it was didn’t sit right.
About three weeks ago, my little brother murdered my dad.
That’s a hard sentence to write. And I know it’s probably even harder to read.
If that lands heavy, I understand. It still hits me every time I say it out loud.
But if I’m going to keep showing up in your inbox—or on this blog—I want it to be as a real person.
What Grief (and Growth) Really Looks Like
And honestly?
I’m doing… remarkably okay.
When addiction gets deep into a family, you start grieving long before the final loss. You watch people you love disappear while their body is still there. You start missing them while they’re still alive.
So in a strange way, I started grieving my dad years ago. That doesn’t make this any less tragic—it just made it feel… final.
What I’m working through now is my feelings toward my brother. He’s struggled with mental illness for years. And I bounce between sadness and anger.
But I know where I want to land:
Forgiveness.
Not because what he did is forgivable. But because of who I want to be.
If You Want to Be That Person, Act Like That Person
And if you want to be a certain kind of person, you have to start by doing what that kind of person would do.
Maybe you’ve been telling yourself it’s too late.
That you’ve already tried and failed.
That life’s too busy right now.
But what if that story isn’t true anymore?
- Want to be the kind of person who says yes to the hike, instead of sitting it out?
- Want to move through your day without wondering what will flare up next?
- Want to stop worrying whether your body is going to keep up with your life?
You don’t have to wait for a tragedy to become the version of yourself you’ve been putting off.
You just have to stop listening to the version of you that’s afraid to begin.
Small Steps Change Everything
You don’t need to overhaul your life or wait for the “perfect time.” You just need a place to begin—one smart step at a time. At Stowe Personal Training in Central Austin, we help adults over 50 start small… and stay strong. Ready to take your first step? Let’s talk.
Other posts that make starting feel possible:
-
Afraid to Start Because of Health Issues? I Get It.
→ See how we help adults over 50 train safely around injuries, surgeries, or chronic pain. -
The Time Everyone Thought I Was Fluent in Spanish
→ How a structured plan removes guesswork and builds real momentum. -
The Secret to Sticking with Fitness
→ Why willpower isn’t the answer—and what works instead.
“I feel at least 10 years younger and stronger. Nate is a great trainer—he challenges me, watches my form, and motivates me every day.”
— Barbara Francis 5- Star Google Review
Written by Nate Stowe, NASM-CPT, NCSF-CPT, CES, TRX Certified
Nate Stowe is a personal trainer and movement specialist based in Austin, Texas, with over 16 years of experience helping adults over 50 move better, get stronger, and live pain-free. He’s the founder of Stowe Personal Training, creator of the GET STRONGER LIVE LONGER Program, and author of Revitalize at 50+, a best-selling book on strength, longevity, and reclaiming your body after middle age.
Over the past two decades, Nate’s training system has helped hundreds of everyday adults avoid surgery, reduce chronic pain, and get back to doing the things they love—without needing a medical degree or spending hours in the gym.
Don’t worry—he saves the third-person talk for bios, not your training sessions. Sixteen years in, he’s still awkward when writing about himself.
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