Putting things off

As I sit and read during my flight home, I ponder whether I am allowing myself to enjoy the richness of life.

Life is both short and long, depending on the day. We often try to postpone dying or try to think it will never happen. We ignore the fact that our lives are limited, mortal. 

But, if instead, we honor the truth… that life ends. Why do we bother with consuming and rushing when it won’t change the fact?

If death is unavoidable, why do we pretend we can live forever?

1. I’ll visit tomorrow
2. I’ll call tomorrow
3. I’ll rest tomorrow
4. I’ll sleep when I die
5. I’ll play when I retire
6. I’ll pay it back later

Why do we wait?
What are we waiting for?

Tomorrow is not guaranteed, not for me, not for you, and definitely not for those we love.

So, as I sit in the deafening noise and quiet of my plane trip home, I realize the meaning my life has is only as much as I give it.

• Who do I want to be?
• Who do I want to be remembered as?
• Do I want to be remembered at all?
• How do I want those I love to think of me?

Does it really matter my income? My profession? Or is it more important the positive impact I have on others?

I firmly believe we should plan to live forever. However, we should live as if today brings our last breathe. Why? Because it is true.

 A mere application of standard medical care to centenarians, as rigorously as to younger adults, would probably extend lifespan beyond 122, even without the need of a scientific breakthrough. 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8636159/

We are living in an era where our health status determines our life span more than anything else. As science continues to develop and learn, our children could very well live well past 100. We should then prepare to live longer than we ever thought possible.

However, in contrast, I include we should also live as if we will breathe our last breath today. This way we live with fewer (no?) regrets. This way we do the things we want to do while we can. There are still instances when life is cut short prematurely by outside forces.

For example:

1. another person/thing permanently ends your physical life
2. a car/train/boat/ or airplane fails because of an unknown reason
3. an animal/plant/bacteria/ or other living thing affects or infects you and you succumb to it
4. you do something stupid unintentionally leading to your own demise
5. you do something intentionally leading to your own demise

Sure, we could die. And as far as history shows, we do.

BUT!

Imagine sitting with your great-great-grand parents and discussing:

1. the farming of the land
2. the history of your family
3. their first job
4. how to bake the best turkey on a fire
5. how to pick the best wild herbs
6. how to sleep and wake with the sun

Now, imagine you. Imagine you meeting your own great-great-grand kids!

1. what would you say?
2. what could you teach them?
3. how could you impact their lives in a positive way?
4. how could you help your future progeny discover their best futures?

The choice is not entirely out of our control. No matter where you are currently, you can improve. You can make choices to enhance your life and your longevity. You can choose to live to 150 and plan your finances/hobbies/education around that.

Stop thinking you are ‘done’ by 80 or 90 years of age. The more you think of limits, the more the limits come true. INSTEAD, plan to live to 150 or more!

Funny thing is, there are some people who believe it is better to die ‘young’ while they are ‘healthy’. I get it, no one wants to be unhealthy and live past 100. No one wants that kind of suffering. What I am saying is you and especially your children and grandchildren, have the potential to live to an exceedingly (? not really) older age AND remain healthy. You CAN have the best of both worlds.

Live your life on purpose.

Thanks for reading,

Dr. Wendi