
Growing Older Together | Facing Fears, Embracing Resilience
How do we remind others—and ourselves—that we may be older, but we still matter?
Growing Older Together is a podcast for older adults, centered on the stories, memories, and changes that shape how we see ourselves over time. Most episodes are under 15 minutes and explore themes like identity, fear, aging, and personal growth.
I started this podcast because society often treats aging like the end of the story—like we no longer count. And sometimes, we start to believe it. But our stories still matter, and they deserve to be heard.
Season One, Echoes of the Past, Visions of Tomorrow, includes 16 episodes about the experiences that stay with us—through uncertainty, silence, resilience, forgiveness, and how our relationships evolve over time.
Season Two, Silent Struggles: Finding Strength in Our Fears, centers on fear—how it shows up in everyday life, keeps us quiet, and what it means to speak about it. This season also introduced Whispers of Regret: Women Finding Peace in Silence, a recurring interview series where women share stories they’ve carried for years.
Episode 9 was published on December 12, 2024. After that, I stepped away from recording to care for my mom, who passed away on March 17, 2025.
I missed preparing, hosting, and recording the podcast, but my mind and energy were with my mom. Thank you for staying connected and for your patience. I’m ready to return with Episode 10: Invisible With Age: Fighting Ageism. As I find my rhythm again, I'll be sharing new episodes every 2 to 3 weeks.
If this speaks to you, I invite you to listen and maybe recognize a piece of your own story in someone else’s.
Let’s keep growing older and wiser together.
Growing Older Together | Facing Fears, Embracing Resilience
S1 Ep 4 Unresolved Emotions
In Season 1, Episode 4, Unresolved Emotions, of "Growing Older Together," Lourdes discusses the emotional baggage that accompanies us in later years. Through her story and a look at how these feelings shape our lives, this discussion opens up a conversation on facing and managing emotions we've pushed aside.
It's about recognizing these feelings, understanding their roots, and taking steps toward healing. This episode encourages us to approach our inner turmoil with kindness and patience, from practical advice on seeking support and personal reflections on self-acceptance.
Join Lourdes as she explores the path to inner peace, proving it's possible to move forward with hope.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Remember to subscribe and rate the podcast on your favorite platform. You can watch all episodes on my YouTube channels, access show notes, and enjoy captioned content in English and Spanish. Here's the link: https://linktr.ee/growingoldertogether.
You can also email me at podcast@lourdesdirden.com. Thank you for listening.
[00:00:00] Music
[00:00:19] Welcome back to Growing Older Together, season One, Echoes of the Past, Visions of Tomorrow. I'm Lourdes. Have you ever felt stuck with certain feelings you cannot shake off? Today's episode, Unresolved Emotions, is about those feelings we push down,. ignore, or just do not want to deal with when they come up.
[00:00:45] As we get older, some of us find it harder to keep everything under control. Life becomes less about what is happening on the outside and more about what is happening on the inside. [00:01:00] It's during this time that unresolved emotions can resurface. They come knocking, getting in front of our faces. The impact of carrying these unresolved emotions into our later years can significantly impact our behavior and daily life.
[00:01:19] I want to share a personal story. When I was 17. I experienced what I now know was a panic attack. I was waiting for a bus when suddenly I was overwhelmed with fear. I fell to the ground. And I couldn't breathe. At the time. I had no idea what was happening to me. But it was terrifying. That moment was a wake up call about the unresolved emotions I had. , especially regarding my relationship with my father.
[00:01:53] His behavior was unpredictable, influenced by his mood and whether he had been [00:02:00] drinking. As I grew older, I sought control over every aspect of my life. A way to cope with the feelings of never being good enough and the constant fear of failure. I strived for perfection, procrastinated out of fear of making mistakes, and longed for my father's acknowledgement and love. It took years, but I've begun to let go of those unresolved emotions, learning to value myself and recognizing that my worth isn't tied to my past.
[00:02:34] Addressing these behaviors often requires recognizing and confronting the underlying unresolved emotions, through self-reflection, therapy, or other forms of emotional support.
[00:02:50] Imagine building walls around a beautiful garden to protect it. Similarly, unresolved emotions build walls [00:03:00] around your heart, keeping out both the bad and the good. So what can we do about it? First, it's about acknowledging these emotions. Recognize that it's okay to feel this way. It's a part of being human.
[00:03:20] Second. Seek understanding. Why do you feel this need for control? What are you afraid of? For me, the need to be in control stemmed from growing up in an unpredictable environment. I never knew what version of my father I would get. The happy drinking one or the angry, sober one. This unpredictability made me crave stability and control in all other areas of my life.
[00:03:52] What I was really afraid of was the chaos and the feeling of helplessness that came with my father's [00:04:00] moods. I wanted to prevent myself from ever feeling that vulnerable again. And third it's about healing. This could mean therapy, journaling, meditation, or simply talking about it with friends or loved ones.
[00:04:20] Healing is not about erasing the past but about understanding it, accepting it, and moving forward with compassion for ourselves. It's about building trust, not just in others, but in ourselves. It's about learning to let go. Forgiving ourselves for what we think are flaws, and loving ourselves just as we are, imperfections and all.
[00:04:54] As we grow older, let's remember that it's never too late to address [00:05:00] unresolved emotions, and it's never too late to seek peace within ourselves. Our later years can be very fulfilling and peaceful if we work on understanding and healing our inner feelings.
[00:05:18] I would love to hear how you have dealt with tough emotions. Share your story and let's learn from each other. Together, we can support and inspire one another through this journey. In next week's episode. The Art of Apology, I'll talk about how admitting our mistakes and making things right can change us and help us heal. To close. Here's a quote by
[00:05:49] Gabor Mate.
[00:05:50] "Whether we realize it or not, it is our woundedness, or how we cope with it, that dictates [00:06:00] much of our behavior, shapes our social habits, and informs our ways of thinking about the world." Think of unresolved emotions like splinters. They're small, but they affect everything we do. By facing and healing these emotional splinters,
[00:06:19] we can move more freely, build better relationships, and see the world more clearly.
[00:06:27] Okay, that's it for today. Until next week, let's grow older and wiser together.