ROPHO — Purpose, Courage & Still Showing Up

“Search for a hero inside yourself.”

Heather Small sang it years ago, and like many good lyrics, it quietly hangs around in your head until one day it suddenly makes sense.

As I approach 64 and prepare to launch this website and blog, I had a conversation today that I’ve had more than once recently.

It went something like this:

Shouldn’t you be slowing down now?”

It wasn’t meant unkindly.
It was said with concern, maybe even affection.
But it stopped me in my tracks.

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Slowing down… or tuning out?

I tried to explain that what I want to do isn’t about chasing success, money, or proving anything.

I want to build something that gives people 60+:

• a place to think
• a place to talk
• a sounding board
• a sense they’re not alone

A space where problems, personal, lifestyle, business, confidence, health, purpose, can be talked about honestly.
Where ideas can be shared.
Where people can be inspired to believe that dreaming doesn’t have an expiry date.

The response?

A smile.
A pause.
And then…

“You’re mad.

That was the fourth time in two weeks I’ve been told that.

Instead of putting me off, it’s convinced me I might be on to something.

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When “mad” really means “uncomfortable”

Here’s what I’ve learned over the years:

When people say “you’re mad”, what they often mean is:

• “That wouldn’t work for me.”
• “I’d be too scared to do that.”
• “I thought life was supposed to get smaller now.”

Society quietly teaches us that later life should be about less:

• less ambition
• less risk
• less curiosity
• less energy
• less contribution

But what if that’s wrong?

What if later life is actually about more, just differently?

More meaning.
More honesty.
More choice.
More freedom to say “this matters to me.”

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The hero isn’t loud or flashy

The hero Heather Small was singing about isn’t wearing a cape.

It’s not about reinvention for the sake of it.
It’s not about hustle culture or grinding until exhaustion.

The hero inside yourself is quieter than that.

It’s the voice that says:

• “I’m not done yet.”
• “I still care.”
• “I still want to contribute.”
• “I want to use what I’ve learned.”

Sometimes the bravest thing you can do at 60+
is to start something new when the world expects you to stop.

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Why ROPHO exists

ROPHO isn’t about pretending ageing doesn’t exist.
It’s about engaging with it honestly.

With humour.
With realism.
With kindness.

It’s about pleasure and responsibility.
Dreams and discipline.
Hope and practicality.

And above all, it’s about reminding people — myself included — that:

You don’t age out of purpose.
You age into it.

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If this resonates with you…

If you’ve been told to slow down when you feel like you’re only just understanding what matters…
If you’ve been quietly thinking “there’s more I want to do”…
If you’ve been labelled mad for still having ideas…

Welcome.

You’re in the right place.

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Final thought

Maybe the real madness isn’t starting something new at 64.

Maybe it’s believing that curiosity, creativity, and contribution have a sell-by date.

So yes — I’ll keep searching for the hero inside myself.

And if this website helps others find theirs too,
then being “mad” seems like a pretty good place to be.