
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 10 Navigating Uncertainty
In Season 1, Episode 10, Navigating Uncertainty, of "Growing Older Together," Lourdes explores the complex theme of handling uncertainty through her journey over the past few weeks. She discusses the challenges of her health and dealing with family issues and how these experiences have impacted her ability to manage self-doubt and fear.
Tune in to hear Lourdes share valuable lessons and insights on overcoming adversity and growing stronger through tough times.
RESOURCES MENTIONED:
* Embracing Uncertainty: A Guide to Managing Self-Criticism
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gasirIrRbs9RKGelk0F5m_c8L9Xquz3b/view?usp=share_link
* Don Jose Ruiz's YouTube Video The Fifth Agreement' author on Love, Fear, & Transformation, https://youtu.be/DKFo2fMQnv4?si=Bxe5iO9cwHx9InnL
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. How do you handle uncertainty when you are in conflict with yourself? Today, we will explore this question through a personal story from the past two weeks—when I was not feeling well and facing family challenges.
[00:00:48] I planned to share this episode with you two weeks ago, but I was not feeling well and I had some family issues that weighed on me. These problems made me feel [00:01:00] unwell, and I struggled to feel like myself. I questioned my ability to deliver the podcast, feeling troubled and unsure. It made me wonder whether I was good enough to speak to you.
[00:01:15] Over the last two weeks, I learned a little more about myself. I noticed I was avoiding, dealing with my fears. Making peace of mind my main focus helped a lot. I trust my good intentions and the valuable lessons I am learning and sharing with others. It is important to speak up when things are not going well—holding it in can only cause harm. All this has strengthened my determination to be the best messenger I can be for you, committed to sharing the truth and nothing else in our conversations.
[00:01:54] One book that greatly influenced me years ago was "The Four Agreements" by Don [00:02:00] Miguel Ruiz. It taught principles like being truthful, not taking things personally, avoiding assumptions, and always doing your best. Recently, I started reading "The Fifth Agreement, a follow-up book I bought last year. It introduces an additional principle: 'Be Skeptical But Learn to Listen,' echoing the importance of listening we discussed in our last episode. By applying 'Be Skeptical But Learn to Listen,' I began questioning these doubts and listening more deeply to my thoughts. This approach helped me see that these feelings were natural responses to stress, not truths about my capabilities.
[00:02:51] A passage from Chapter 10 stood out to me: Often, we judge ourselves harshly: 'Poor me, look what [00:03:00] happened when I was nine or just last night! But these past events are not true now. They might have been awful, but they do not define the present. The only real truth is what is happening now. The past is like a story in our minds; even if our bodies have moved on, our minds can trap us in shame and suffering for years.
[00:03:32] This new insight into Toltec wisdom has been soothing. It reminds me that I have control over my life and then if I am unhappy with something, I can change it.
[00:03:47] I have been watching podcasts and YouTube videos from Don Miguel Ruiz and his family to understand these ideas better. One video that stood out was an [00:04:00] interview with Don Jose Ruiz, Don Miguel's son, from about four years ago. In it, Don Jose shared something that touched me. He talked about his interest in India, Catholicism, and Native American cultures. He explained how our core intentions and goals are similar despite our different expressions through words and ceremonies. We all strive to overcome our personal limitations and contribute positively to the world. He believes following what truly inspires you is a beautiful way to live.
[00:04:44] I am excited about joining a group session soon led by Karla Ruiz, daughter of Don Miguel Ruiz, which I hope will help me tackle these challenges better. The ideas about being skeptical but still listening [00:05:00] actively are helping me grow and understand myself more deeply. I have included a link in the show notes to see the interview with Don Jose Ruiz.
[00:05:11] Reflecting on the past few weeks, I have realized the importance of managing uncertainty and embracing personal growth. These are topics that we often discuss on our podcast. I encourage you to reflect on your experiences with uncertainty and the lessons you have learned from them. If you have any personal stories or questions about handling doubt or navigating tricky situations, please share them. Your insights could be incredibly valuable to our community, and there is a chance we might feature your story in an upcoming episode. You can submit your experiences and [00:06:00] questions via the podcast's website or social media pages. As a special resource, next week's show notes will include a link to a free download on 'Strategies and Exercises for Embracing Uncertainty and Dealing with Self-Judgment.'
[00:06:18] Before I finish, subscribe to your favorite podcast platform to know when the next episode is available. If you enjoyed this episode, consider sharing it; it helps our community grow. I would love to hear your thoughts or suggestions for future topics. Also, check out my YouTube Channel for captioned episodes and Spanish translations. More details and resources can be found in the show notes.
[00:06:51] In our next episode, 'Navigating Relationships and Perspectives,' we will discuss how interacting with others [00:07:00] often reflects our internal conversations. We will explore how conflicts with others can reveal our challenges and provide insights into ways we can improve our relationships to support our personal growth. To close, I would like to share a quote by Gabrielle Bernstein, "Fear is often our immediate response to uncertainty. There is nothing wrong with experiencing fear. The key is not to get stuck in it." This message aligns with today's discussion about moving forward despite our fears, learning from our experiences, and growing stronger. Okay, that's it for today. Thank you for listening. Until next week, let's grow older and wiser together. [00:08:00]