“I wish I could live at least three lifetimes” is a thought that visits me now and then, lingering like a soft echo. It came to me most recently as I sat on my front porch, half-drifted into the quiet tide of nature’s beauty. Around me rose an auditorium oftrees, each one distinct, while an orchestra of birds and creaturesfilled the air with music, motion, and wonder. There is so much to experience, to learn, to live and with only one life we canbarely scratch the surface. The older I get the more precious life becomes to me.
But is living longer really the highest aim? Longevity expertsprofit from podcasts, books, and products aimed at people who make that their goal. How can I live longer? How can I fight death? What can I do about life’s inevitable end? Is the answer a miracle food, a perfect amount of water or sleep, or some breakthrough supplement that promises to cheat death? The mindset feels much like a get-rich-quick scheme: whenever something new claims to extend life, people rush toward it like shoppers chasing a Black Friday deal. Both approaches, those who want the magic pill and those who almost live in unrelenting life behavior to extend life border on a narcissistic perspective.
There is another extreme: people making themselves miserable in the effort to add years to their lives. They severely restrict their diets, cutting back on—or even eliminating—foods they enjoy. They follow rigid, almost self-punishing exercise routinesand criticize themselves for missing a workout, eating something unhealthy, forgetting supplements, or failing to lose another pound.
Maybe an important question might be: “Why do we want to live longer?” Living life in a way to extend life can be a worthy and admirable endeavor. As Mary Oliver wrote, “what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” What we want to do with our one wild and precious life might be another important question to ask ourselves. How can we make the most of the life we have been given? How can we make each breath count? Richard Davidson PhD professor of Psychology and Psychiatry at the University of Wisconsin-Madison wrote in his book “Born to Flourish” stated that there are four practices that can be transformative if used. A word of caution before I list them, “relax and implement if you so choose with a mindset of ease and enjoyment.
The number of years we have to live on this earth is important but yet the quality of the years we live is also worthy forconsideration. I hope to see you soon on your Journey to Wellness.
