As a young child, my great grandfather felt larger than life. He had come to the United States from Italy with nothing, enduring years of gruelling work in the coal mines so he could eventually bring his family over and give them a better future. Despite the language barrier, I admired everything about him. His strength, his principles, his courage, and the way he stood up for what was right. To me, he was a symbol of resilience and possibility, and I wanted to grow up to be just like him.

Years later, I saw a very different side of that same man. Visiting him in the hospital, I was confronted with how much his body had changed. The strength I once admired had faded, replaced by frailty and struggle. That moment stayed with me. It shaped how I thought about health, ageing, and the choices we make over a lifetime. From that day on, I became driven to understand how we can grow older while maintaining strength, independence, and vitality, a question that has guided my work and ultimately led to this book.