When Rosemary Robinson Jackson first walked through the gym doors, she was looking for a nudge in the right direction.
“I was contemplating getting in better condition,” she recalls, adding that a friend had made big strides recently and planted the seed: Why not me?
Before retirement, Rosemary was a medical records manager for a university’s student health services. The job required structure, responsibility, and a strong work ethic—traits she now channels into her fitness journey. Though she considered herself “fairly fit” when she started, what’s shifted most isn’t her strength or flexibility (though those have improved too)—it’s her motivation.
“I’m more inspired to do other activities in my day,” she says, almost surprised at how this one choice created a ripple effect in her life.
Rosemary’s favorite part of her exercise routine isn’t a piece of equipment or a specific workout. It’s the freedom—the space to be where you are, to show up consistently, and to grow from there.
For anyone feeling nervous about starting, she has this simple advice: “Trust your trainer and yourself.” Then she leans in with a gentle reminder that feels like wisdom: “Faith above fear. Believe you can, and you will. You will change your life for the better.”
If she had to wrap it all up in one word?
“Altering.”
Not dramatic. Not flashy. Just real change—rooted in effort, faith, and a decision to show up.
Holly Kouvo is a personal trainer, functional aging specialist, senior fitness specialist, brain health trainer, writer, and speaker.