What are your thoughts on the concept of living a very long life?
Today’s question has been on my mind lately since there have been a lot of deaths in my circle, and I’ve been a close observer of the stress, pain, and hard decisions loved ones have to go through.
One of our blog family lost her husband yesterday, which hits hard. But I’m glad she has the support of many close friends who’ve gone through this before, and she has supportive family. Sometimes, when no one you know has been through such a loss, you can feel so alone and lost, and it hits you so hard.
So, do we want to live very long lives? No matter when we pass away, we will leave sad people behind to treasure memories. I wish I had more of them with my mom, who died when I was 26. I coped poorly but was glad she was out of her mental and physical pain.
As long as I’m in reasonable health, can enjoy nature and my community, and am not a burden to others, I’d prefer to live a long life. I’m just curious about how we humans are going to handle things in the coming 30 or 40 years. And I’d love to continue contributing to society and becoming more wise.
Yet, if I were chronically ill with constant pain or costing my family so much that I was a financial burden, I’d have no problems with letting go. It would be interesting to see what’s next for the energy that brings me life.
I can honestly say that I empathize with anyone who decides they are “done” and don’t keep pushing forward in old age, and I can see not wanting to give up. And I have seen for myself how quickly you can go from fighting to dignified surrender when the time comes.
This made no sense, I’m afraid, but it helped me to write it. I do want to live long and prosper, though!
Love to all of you who are struggling. I am here for you if you need me.
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There is really not such a big difference between living fully and consciously and dying fully and consciously. The real waste is spending one’s limited time fearing either one.
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Excellent point. I never want to live in fear. Death is a part of life, and I’m fine with it.
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I suspect ‘long lives’ are over rated. Just ask anyone who is living that long life. Regardless of length I would say quality of life matters more. Have worked in long term care settings for more than two decades I can say it is not optimal living.
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Yes, we’ve owned a personal assistance service for a few years now, and we’ve sure seen some misery. On the other hand, some of my friends are leading active and productive lives well into their nineties. I guess this is an area that really differs from person to person. Thanks for your comment.
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When a friend experiences a loss like this, it really causes us to reflect on how we’d respond in a similar situation. I want to live as long as I’m prospering—to have that magical ability to know when the bad outweighs the good and have this physical life gently end. It doesn’t often happen that way, though.
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Yeah, I am always happy when it works out just right for someone.
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Thank you for being here for us. Today was hard, making memorial arrangements, but I know you and other friends have my back. I’ve found laughter almost every step of the way. I am old, and I want to get young. Let’s aim for that!
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You bet, and we can grow old together!
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