· 5 min
Living Until One Hundred: An Interview with Martina Colombari
An interview with Martina Colombari on conscious living, menopause without taboo, and small rituals that change everything. From Tempo delle Donne Milano 2026.
On Saturday, September 12th, while Milan celebrated the Tempo delle Donne in the garden of Teatrino Mendini, we listened to a conversation that touched a nerve for all of us: how to live a full, conscious life and most importantly, without fear.
The protagonist? Martina Colombari, actress and television presenter, who shared the principles of her book "Il cambiamento sei tu" (You are the change) in a dialogue with Francesca Angeleri.
Life Is a Responsibility That Belongs to Us
The core message was clear: we are the protagonists of our own lives. It's not a matter of genetic luck or circumstances – it's a matter of daily choice.
"Prevention means health," said Colombari, "but that doesn't mean doing complicated things. It means making small choices throughout the day."
You don't need an hour of intense Pilates. You need to take the stairs instead of the elevator. Walk. Move consciously. Colombari herself shares that for her, "exercising" means incorporating movement naturally into her day, not sacrificing an hour to the cult of physical perfection.
This is a lesson that resonates deeply with Solvialuna's philosophy. We don't believe in perfection. We believe in small rituals that change lives.
Longevity Is The New Black (But Without Performativity)
A moment that drew laughter in the room: "Longevity is the new black" – longevity has become a trend. But like every trend, it risks becoming performative, another thing to "do" to keep up.
Colombari gently dismantled this myth. Longevity is not an aesthetic. It's a conscious lifestyle, made up of:
- Small rituals (for her: posture exercises in the morning, Greek yogurt with fruit sautéed in a pan – "a nice habit that's worth it")
- Conscious breathing
- Personal space dedicated to yourself
- Healthy relationships
- Natural movement in daily life
We're Used to Speed, But We Need to Slow Down
An observation that struck home: we live in a society built on speed, but our bodies need to slow down. It's not laziness. It's health.
This means stopping to breathe. It means a warm cup of tea in the morning. It means saying no without guilt.
Menopause Is Not a Taboo, It's a Reality
Colombari spoke openly about menopause. Not as a disease to prevent, but as a phase to manage consciously.
"Why should we be ashamed?" she asked. "All of us go through menopause. We should talk about it without taboo."
And here we recognized Solvialuna's mission in every word. Menopause is not an enemy. It's a transformation. And it deserves to be celebrated, supported, and faced with dignity.
Colombari also emphasized the importance of not being afraid to ask for help. You don't have to face everything alone. The right supplements, nutrition, professionals – these aren't luxuries, they're tools of awareness.
The Responsibility to Care for Yourself
A recurring theme: women take care of everyone else. Children, partners, aging parents, colleagues. But who takes care of them?
"We need to renew ourselves and become more selfish," said Colombari. Not in the negative sense of the word. In the sense of: taking the space we deserve.
This means:
- Not feeling guilty about saying no
- Investing in products and rituals for yourself
- Taking responsibility for your physical and mental health
- Not waiting for others to take care of you
The Power of Women Supporting Women
Colombari touched on a painful point: women's best friends should be women. But often, we're afraid of being seen as imperfect in our friends' eyes.
"We want to show our friends that we're flawless," she said. "But men are much simpler about this. They talk about what they have, accept having problems."
She and her closest friends speak openly with each other. But she's noticed that in Milan, this openness is less common. In Rome, for example, it seems more natural.
This reminds us: we need more spaces where women can speak without masks. Spaces where menopause, exhaustion, fears – are normal topics.
Aesthetic Medicine: Yes, But Let's Celebrate Differences
Colombari is not against aesthetic medicine. But she has an interesting point: "Differences make us beautiful. If we're all the same, there's no beauty."
It's a declaration of freedom. You can do what you want with your body. But don't feel obligated to conform to a single standard.
And the Final Question?
The event concluded with the slogan: "What would you do if you weren't afraid?"
Colombari's answer was perfect: "I may seem presumptuous, but I do it anyway because I'm not afraid!"
It's not arrogance. It's freedom. It's the right to live your life without asking permission, without apologizing, without waiting for approval.
Conclusion: What Do We Learn For Our Health?
From this conversation, we extracted lessons that resonate with Solvialuna's philosophy:
- Prevention is small daily gestures, not heroic sacrifices
- Longevity is a lifestyle, not an aesthetic
- Slow down – your body will thank you
- Talk about menopause without taboo – it's natural, it's normal, it's your right
- Taking care of yourself is not selfishness, it's responsibility
- Women support each other best when they're open about their imperfections
- Small rituals change everything
As we drove home after the event, one question remained: what would you do if you weren't afraid?
And more importantly: why aren't you already doing it?
