Still figuring out this podcast thing — bare with me.
Ripe
We live in a world that worships youth. The fountain of youth is everywhere — in ads, in feeds, in how we talk about age as if it were a failure. But what if getting older is not a weakness? What if it is more like ripening?
I have been thinking about this a lot lately. I am surrounded by people who are well into their years — seasoned, lived-in, full of story. And what I notice, every single day, is how many are moving through chronic pain, lost flexibility, shaky balance, fading sight or hearing. I watch how that shapes their world. How it narrows it. And it reminds me — daily — to be grateful. For my own body. For the health of the people I love most. Nothing should be taken for granted. Nothing.
When I worked as a work consultant years ago, part of my job was mapping people’s health — not just physical, but mental and emotional too. Every layer of their being and how it showed up in their lives. What struck me then, and still stays with me now, is this: some people were deeply lost inside their dis-ease. Others burned to break free — and were actively part of their own process. I always wondered what makes the difference. Why do some build a nest inside their suffering while others are already pushing towards the door?
I do not have an answer. Only what I know from my own life — change takes effort. Self-discipline. In any area. Always.
And aging is also a change. A natural one. Part of the whole arc of being human. So why do some people grow older and stay fully alive — functioning, curious, present — while others struggle so much? I see it inside the same family. Same genes. Similar upbringing. And still — completely different experiences of growing old. Some suffer. Some do not.
That mystery humbles me. But something I heard years ago keeps coming back to me. Through that same work, I attended a seminar by Astrid Nøklebye Heiberg. At over 80, she had just been headhunted by the government — a powerhouse of a woman who spoke about three keys to aging with grace: mental stimulation, physical stimulation, emotional stimulation.
That has stayed with me. Because those three keys treat us as whole beings. And that is exactly where we are heading — slowly, but surely — in how we understand human health. Body, mind, and emotions are not separate rooms. They are one house. Science is getting closer to what Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine has always known. Everything is connected.
Our thoughts shape the body. Emotions live in our tissues. And the inner world is not separate from the outer one. Even the lies we tell ourselves — and we all tell them — leave a mark. We live in a world where dishonesty has become so normal that telling the truth can make you feel like the strange one. But those quiet inner lies, the ones we repeat to ourselves — they touch every part of our system.
And in a world still dazzled by youth, I think it matters to notice what we are consuming. What we are being filled with. How we relate to our own inner world. Because aging well is about all of it. We need to move our bodies — to keep balance, mobility, and independence. A body that moves trusts itself. We need mental stimulation — learning, building, staying curious — not just to stay busy, but to stay alive inside. And we need emotional growth. Not just feeling feelings, but actually meeting our patterns, moving through them, staying flexible from the inside out.
These are the keys. To growing older fully. Strongly. Maybe even joyfully.
Ripe — not faded.
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By the way, I am Parisa, the woman behind the blog People, Life, Politics and Bullshit. Wander over to my blog where I touch all that I find amazing and amusing — life, politics, movement and yes, some bullshit too. In my last post I shared an interview about what it means to be a woman. I am also the founder of Dhyana and Donya Movement and Health. I am on Instagram most days, sharing small reflections and real moments. My Facebook page is where I gather people around holistic movement and body awareness events. And when words are enough — music moves what nothing else can. Find my playlist on Spotify under Movement Coach Parisa. Let it inspire you to move wildly and freely.
Very interesting approach to aging Parisa! I think that we can add fear of dying, I have seen that in many people and maybe I am scared too but I don’t know it yet, as I hope that it will come as late as possible.
Thank you — and yes, such a valid point. Fear of dying sits underneath so much of how we relate to aging. Death is the one thing we all share — the only truly guaranteed experience of being human. And what waits on the other side remains a mystery to all of us.
But honestly? I would not want to live forever. Not in this shape. And maybe we do continue — not as this body, but as something larger. An eternal consciousness that was never really born and never really dies.
That thought makes aging feel less frightening to me. And more interesting.
Beautiful!
I love the concept of ripening, Parisa. I, too, am fascinated by different approaches to aging. I just finished reading Dick Van Dyke’s book “100 Rules for Living to 100”. I was impressed by his positive outlook and how he continues to be active and engaged despite the limitations of his aging body. I see a similar pattern with my 93-year-old mother. Good role models to follow.
You are a lucky one in that sense. Having your mother aging with good health — that is a real gift. My mother is walking a different path and watching that is one of my biggest reminders. Nothing should be taken for granted. Nothing. The only moment we know for sure is this one. Right here. Right now.
The book sounds fascinating — I will look it up. And yes — to a different way of meeting elderhood. One that honours it rather than downgrading it.
You’re right Parisa. I am blessed to have my mother with me and in good health. I saw such a contrast between my two parents. My father died at 71 after 15 years of health issues that reduced his quality of life. He was a heavy smoker, heavy drinker, and lived a sedentary life. It was an eye-opening lesson of how I want to age.
Yes, our parents are our first and biggest teachers on all manners.