We call certain trees “evergreen” because they retain their vibrant foliage year-round, never shedding all their leaves at once. They stand as symbols of continuity, resilience, and immortality—qualities we rarely associate with ageing people in our youth-obsessed culture. Yet the metaphor fits beautifully.

Yes, our bodies change as we age. Grey hair emerges, wrinkles deepen, movement may slow. But these physical markers don’t diminish relevance or vitality any more than the changing seasons diminish an evergreen’s green canopy. Like those trees, aging people remain fresh in perspective, continuously relevant to the present moment, and rich with accumulated wisdom.

Ageism insists that older people are obsolete, stuck in the past, no longer contributors. But this view ignores a fundamental truth: the “leaves of past seasons” don’t burden an evergreen—they enrich the soil beneath, nourishing new growth. Similarly, life experiences, memories, and knowledge of ageing people create fertile ground for families, communities, history, heritage, and society.

Consider what we call “evergreen”: Shakespeare’s plays, Beethoven’s symphonies, Rembrandt’s paintings, the Eiffel Tower. These transcend their era to remain perpetually meaningful. The same applies to people. An elder’s humor, creativity, insight, and love don’t expire with time—they mature, deepen, become more refined.

California redwoods—those ancient evergreen giants—survive for thousands of years through deep roots and sturdy trunks that have been built over centuries. We marvel at them and respect their age. Elder people possess similar resilience, their inner strength forged through years of navigating life’s challenges. They don’t go dormant; they remain active participants in the world.

Perhaps it’s time we reclaim “evergreen” as a descriptor for ageing itself—not despite the grey hair and wrinkles, but because of the timeless vitality, continuous renewal, and enduring relevance that maturity brings. True immortality isn’t about avoiding change; it’s about remaining vibrantly present through all the seasons of life.

As the poet Rumi wrote:

“What was told the cypress that made it strong and straight.. that is being said to me now.”

Thanks – Michael (he, him)

Please share this Daily with your tribes.
This is also important – What is Ageless?

#2068