Community Discussions
What's your "why" for longevity?
For a long time, health meant one thing to me: looking good. Build muscle, stay lean, repeat. I wasn't thinking about what my body would be doing at 60 or 70. Longevity was an abstract concept for future-me to worry about. Then life happened. I got married. Had a kid. Started watching my parents move a little slower each year. And somewhere in the middle of all that, I became acutely aware of my own mortality in a way I hadn't been before.
Holding your newborn at 3am while wondering whether your dad will still be sharp enough to play catch with him in a decade changes something in you. The question I ask myself now is completely different. It used to be: How do I look? Now it's: How many healthy, functional years do I have left, and how do I maximize them?
I want to be present and active for my son's milestones, not just alive for them. I want my parents to watch their grandson grow up from a place of vitality, not decline. I want to support my partner through decades of life together with a body and mind that can actually show up. That means caring about things I never used to think about. Metabolic health. Cognitive function. Joint integrity. Sleep architecture. Cardiovascular capacity measured in decades, not gym sessions.
So I'm curious about your story. When did your pivot happen? Was there a moment that made healthspan feel urgent instead of theoretical? Did watching someone you love change how you think about your own trajectory?
For a long time, health meant one thing to me: looking good. Build muscle, stay lean, repeat. I wasn't thinking about what my body would be doing at 60 or 70. Longevity was an abstract concept for future-me to worry about. Then life happened. I got married. Had a kid. Started watching my parents move a little slower each year. And somewhere in the middle of all that, I became acutely aware of my own mortality in a way I hadn't been before.
Holding your newborn at 3am while wondering whether your dad will still be sharp enough to play catch with him in a decade changes something in you. The question I ask myself now is completely different. It used to be: How do I look? Now it's: How many healthy, functional years do I have left, and how do I maximize them?
I want to be present and active for my son's milestones, not just alive for them. I want my parents to watch their grandson grow up from a place of vitality, not decline. I want to support my partner through decades of life together with a body and mind that can actually show up. That means caring about things I never used to think about. Metabolic health. Cognitive function. Joint integrity. Sleep architecture. Cardiovascular capacity measured in decades, not gym sessions.
So I'm curious about your story. When did your pivot happen? Was there a moment that made healthspan feel urgent instead of theoretical? Did watching someone you love change how you think about your own trajectory?
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+1 Goal no. 1 is being there for the kids of my kids. Besides that being able to do mountaineering, go for runs and roadcycling rides with friends in nature as long as possible.
+1 Goal no. 1 is being there for the kids of my kids. Besides that being able to do mountaineering, go for runs and roadcycling rides with friends in nature as long as possible.
Beautifully written, @gabriel-alizaidy! Thanks for sharing your journey and personal why. Same here.
As a two-time dad, I want to be there for my kids for as long as possible. I really resonate with Peter Attia’s idea of the Centenarian Decathlon: being able to jump, climb, run, and play, not just with kids, but hopefully one day with grandkids too. That’s the goal.
Would love to hear your personal "why":
• @anika-klemens
• @ana-lorena-gomez
• @sandra-hagen
• @floris-roltsch
• @hadi-saleh
• @nick-mulder
• @anne-latz
• @marie-luise-huber
Beautifully written, @gabriel-alizaidy! Thanks for sharing your journey and personal why. Same here.
As a two-time dad, I want to be there for my kids for as long as possible. I really resonate with Peter Attia’s idea of the Centenarian Decathlon: being able to jump, climb, run, and play, not just with kids, but hopefully one day with grandkids too. That’s the goal.
Would love to hear your personal "why":
• @anika-klemens
• @ana-lorena-gomez
• @sandra-hagen
• @floris-roltsch
• @hadi-saleh
• @nick-mulder
• @anne-latz
• @marie-luise-huber
I don’t have kids. Most likely won’t.
But 13 years of traveling changed everything for me.
I’ve watched 100-year-old women in Bali carry temple offerings at dawn. Seen grandmothers in Peru lead community gatherings. Met Indian elders still teaching, creating, fully engaged in daily life. They were sharp, present, needed by their communities.
Most people have never actually seen what thriving at 100 looks like. We’ve just accepted that old age means decline and irrelevance.
These women proved otherwise.
My pivot came from inspiration, not obligation. Seeing undeniable proof that 120 years of vitality is possible if you know what you’re aiming for.
Now I’m obsessed with showing people that target. Testing protocols myself. Living as proof of concept.
That’s what drives me.
I don’t have kids. Most likely won’t.
But 13 years of traveling changed everything for me.
I’ve watched 100-year-old women in Bali carry temple offerings at dawn. Seen grandmothers in Peru lead community gatherings. Met Indian elders still teaching, creating, fully engaged in daily life. They were sharp, present, needed by their communities.
Most people have never actually seen what thriving at 100 looks like. We’ve just accepted that old age means decline and irrelevance.
These women proved otherwise.
My pivot came from inspiration, not obligation. Seeing undeniable proof that 120 years of vitality is possible if you know what you’re aiming for.
Now I’m obsessed with showing people that target. Testing protocols myself. Living as proof of concept.
That’s what drives me.
Hey @Karol, thanks for tagging me. My why isn't really about a finish line.
Yes, I've kids. And I've always believed that they'll build their own lives in their own way. Grandchildren one day? If that happens, of course I want to be fit, strong and present for it. But honestly?, that's not what drives me.
If I had to name my why, it would be curiosity… and love.
When I was a kid, I wanted to be a car mechanic. Not because it was "atypical", but I was fascinated by how something works — how countless small, separate parts can be assembled into one functioning whole. I've always loved taking things apart in my mind, understanding how they work, finding the fault, and making them work again. I've always liked fixing things.
And I think, this is still my why: understanding how things work and helping them work better.
The funny thing is: I'm also the best "object" to explore that on. So I experiment on myself — with care, with optimisation, and yes, sometimes with repair. I try. I test. I learn. I listen to my body. I fine-tune. I rebuild. I get curious again.
And then there's love – but that's another story 😊
Hey @Karol, thanks for tagging me. My why isn't really about a finish line.
Yes, I've kids. And I've always believed that they'll build their own lives in their own way. Grandchildren one day? If that happens, of course I want to be fit, strong and present for it. But honestly?, that's not what drives me.
If I had to name my why, it would be curiosity… and love.
When I was a kid, I wanted to be a car mechanic. Not because it was "atypical", but I was fascinated by how something works — how countless small, separate parts can be assembled into one functioning whole. I've always loved taking things apart in my mind, understanding how they work, finding the fault, and making them work again. I've always liked fixing things.
And I think, this is still my why: understanding how things work and helping them work better.
The funny thing is: I'm also the best "object" to explore that on. So I experiment on myself — with care, with optimisation, and yes, sometimes with repair. I try. I test. I learn. I listen to my body. I fine-tune. I rebuild. I get curious again.
And then there's love – but that's another story 😊
