Strength Over Time
In Japanese joinery, sashimono isn’t about quick fixes—it’s about crafting something that endures and improves with age. Picture a mortise-and-tenon joint or a dovetail, carved from cedar or hinoki. As seasons roll by, humidity swells the wood, dryness shrinks it, and these shifts tighten the fit. Temples in Kyoto or Nara stand as proof: centuries old, yet stronger for it. The master joiner selects the grain, cuts with precision, and trusts time to lock the pieces into a near-unbreakable bond. Sometimes, they’ll polish the wood with natural oils – like a sealant – to protect and enhance it. It’s not just survival – it’s a quiet, growing strength, a testament to design that embraces the years.
The human body’s got the same potential. Forget the myth that we peak young and fade – when you work with your systems, they season like fine wood. The musculoskeletal system proves it: load it right – think a weighted squat or a long walk – and your bones densify, muscles toughen. I’ve seen 70-year-olds in my practice outpace their 40-year-old selves because they’ve kept moving. Wolff’s Law says it clearly: stress the system smartly, and it adapts, locking in stronger over time. Now, Wolff was describing bone, however, there is overwhelming evidence that progressive overload and “doing hard things” improved resilience and grit - which are excellent indications of success and healthy aging. Nutrition’s a game-changer here – protein is essential. Another healthy option is black garlic, although not rich in protein, it is rich in amino acids, fuels muscle repair, while its antioxidants shield cells from wear, like a polish preserving wood grain.
The nervous system’s even more impressive. Neuroplasticity (your brain’s ability to rewire) doesn’t quit with age. Repetition and challenge carve deeper pathways, like a joiner refining a joint. Take Eugene Salomon, a Chess Life Master and Bridge Silver Life Master. At 95, he’s still sharp – 80 years of chess, 70 of bridge, and a book published at 94. That’s no fluke. Strategic games demand planning and mental agility, staving off decline. Dr. Joe Verghese from Einstein College of Medicine backs this: mental stimulation plus physical activity keeps dementia at bay. Black garlic-infused honey adds a twist – its antioxidants protect neurons from oxidative stress, and the honey’s healthy sugars provide steady fuel for focus, seasoning your brain’s “joints” for the long haul.
The cardiopulmonary system rounds it out. Steady movement – dancing, even, as doctors recommend – keeps your heart and lungs elastic, pumping oxygen to fuel the rest. Lifelong exercisers maintain VO2 max levels that defy their birth year. Black garlic supports this too – its amino acids boost circulation, while antioxidants reduce oxidative stress on the heart, like a sealant strengthening wood against the elements. Honey infused with black garlic brings a bonus: natural sugars that sustain energy without the crash, keeping your cardiopulmonary rhythm steady. It’s not about fighting time; it’s about seasoning your systems so they fit tighter with every decade.
The autonomic nervous system (ANS) is the craftsman here, balancing the push and pull. Sympathetic mode (fight-or-flight) revs you up, like tension in a fresh-cut joint. Parasympathetic mode (rest-and-digest) settles it, like the release that locks the fit. A tuned ANS keeps this dance smooth, and it gets better with age if you feed it right. Sleep, sunlight, and movement are your tools – I’ve written about this before. Eugene’s 77 years of chess and bridge at the Gijon club show it: intense intellectual activity, paired with a life on the move, keeps the nervous system humming. Add black garlic-infused honey – its antioxidants calm inflammation (easing sympathetic overdrive), while honey’s sugars stabilize energy, supporting the ANS like a joiner’s steady hand. Dry needling and joint manipulation seal the deal, releasing and calming for a body that thrives.
Neglect the craft, and the fit falters. A sashimono joint warps if ignored; the body does too. Chronic stress jams the ANS into overdrive… muscles tense, joints stiffen, breathing shallows. I see it in patients with cervicogenic dizziness – neck misalignment and muscular asymmetries throwing off balance, mistaken for BPPV. Their “joints” are loose, but not lost. Dry needling (suboccipitals, sacrum, and vagus nerve) and manipulation reset the ANS, and they’re steady again. Nutrition steps in here too – foods free of nasty preservatives and artificial chemicals can repair overworked tissues instead of hurting them, cutting inflammation, like oil smoothing a creaky joint. Writing helps too, says published author Diane Dahl. Recalling stories – childhood, family, funny moments – cues more memories, strengthening cognitive “grain” like seasoning wood. Each tale told is a joint tightened.
Eugene’s story drives this home. At 95, he’s a “poster child” for healthy aging, UN and WHO-approved (one of the only things I like about these organizations). Chess and bridge for 77 years, a 70-year career, a book at 94. That’s time as an ally. In my practice, I see it too: most of the IronMan athletes I have trained are nearly double my age; a 60-year-old runner with knee pain isn’t “old” – their musculoskeletal fit needs tweaking. Movement and dry needling lock it back in; sleep and sunlight refine their ANS. Black garlic-infused honey joins the toolkit – antioxidants for recovery, sugars for stamina – making them tougher than before.
This idea of strength refined over time resonates beyond the physical, touching the spiritual craftsmanship of a life well-lived. Psalm 92:12-14 declares, “The righteous thrive like a palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Planted in the house of the Lord, they thrive in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, healthy and green.” Much like sashimono joints that tighten with the years or a body fortified by movement and care, the spirit flourishes when rooted in purpose and nurtured by faith. This biblical imagery mirrors the joiner’s trust in time: with the right foundation, age doesn’t diminish—it enhances—yielding vitality and fruitfulness that endure.
Pause from the article.
When my wife and I went to Japan with our family, we saw the temples and shrines that were still standing! My personal favorite was the Fushimi Inari in southern Kyoto. The deer in Nara were more exciting for me than the joinery.
Back to the article.
Writing your legacy, adds another layer. Documenting ancestry – parents’ names, old country tales – builds cognitive resilience. It’s not just nostalgia; it’s mental exercise, locking memories into place like a joiner perfecting a dovetail.
Sashimono endures because it’s crafted with care; your body’s no different. Here’s how to season it right:
Move Daily: Walk, dance, lift – stress your musculoskeletal system to strengthen it. Pair with dry needling for recovery.
Stimulate Your Mind: Chess, bridge, or writing – pick something strategic. Martial arts, revered in Japan, adds another layer of strategy as it pertains to deliberate movements.
Rest Well: Sleep locks in memories and balances the ANS; your parasympathetic reset.
Nourish Smart: Add protein to your meals; find foods rich in amino acids for muscles, antioxidants for cells; eat healthy sugars for energy (e.g. fruits and honey).
Write Your Story: Every memory cues another. Google Docs voice typing makes it easy – start with your grandparents’ hometown.
Breathe Deep: Feed your cardiopulmonary system with rhythm – think dancing or a steady jog, fueled by honey’s steady sugars.
Time doesn’t weaken a well-made sashimono joint, it fortifies it. Your body’s the same. Tend your systems – musculoskeletal, nervous, cardiopulmonary – with movement, rest, and nutrition the ANS weaves them into a whole that tightens with age. Eugene’s 95 years, my patients’ recoveries, your family legacy… they all shout it: strength over time isn’t luck; it’s craft. So, grab a pen, a pawn, or a spoonful of black garlic honey, and start seasoning your “wood” today.
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