Over the Hill or in the Valley?

I want to invite you to a perspective shift...

I first heard this idea from my teacher, Katy Bowman, and it changed how I view living life to the fullest — especially after a certain age. I'll include the link to her podcast episode below.

You know the phrase "over the hill"?

Are you at, or nearing, an age where that phrase is starting to feel personal?

For many of us, that phrase implies a time when we were at our peak and now it's all downhill from here. Our best days are behind us. As we descend, we're told to do less, slow down, and simply accept the conditions of aging: bone loss, loss of strength, loss of balance, more falls, higher risk of injury. Time to take it easy and be careful.

I want to be clear: although physical changes do happen as we age, this perspective is harmful.

From a biological perspective, as we get older, our bodies require more work to maintain muscle, balance, and resilience. With smarter, more intentional training, we can stay healthy, prevent injury, and recover more quickly when injuries do happen. The wisest course of action as we age is to move more, train more intelligently, and seek out physical challenges that fill our lives with purpose.

So here's the perspective shift:

What if our life trajectory isn't climbing to the peak from youth to middle age and then descending downhill into our golden years?

What if, instead, we picture youth as starting from the top — and because young bodies are naturally resilient, we've essentially been coasting with minimal effort all the way to middle age? Coasting isn't decline — it's just ease.

And then we reach the valley.

From here, if our intention is to maintain health, resilience, and a vibrant, meaningful life, we have to start putting in the work. We start climbing.

This reframe simply acknowledges a fact: at a certain age, we're going to have to do more to maintain the body that can take us where our mind wants to go. That's not a loss — it's an invitation.

So instead of giving in to decline after you "reach your peak," consider this: you've been coasting. And now, from the bottom of the valley, the true adventure begins. We can choose to experience more in life by embracing the climb throughout our later years.

How does this resonate with you? Are you ready to climb this mountain together?

Link to the Move Your DNA Podcast episode: You’re Not over the Hill, You’re in the Valley