I do think that life sort of hardens us. We get creaky and brittle. Our bones. Our muscles. Maybe our thoughts too.
The trick is to try to stay pliable, flexible. Relax and flow. So much of our time is built upon resistance. Resistance to the pain, to the onslaught of other people, and to traumatic events.
The Tao Te Ching counsels us to "be like water…" - yes, translucent, resilient, easy. There is a strength in being soft. There is power, in moving, giving way.