Five generations of the Akers family.(Today’s article is written by guest author KaZ Akers. For bio information, see below.)
Who wants to live forever?
This is an interesting question posed by Queen. Written in 1986 by Brian May for the film Highlander and recorded by Queen with Freddie Mercury singing.
The Highlander, Connor McLeod, had to endure the aging and subsequent death of his beloved wife, Heather, because he himself was immortal.
The song itself became a sort of anthem for Mercury due to his battle with AIDS. Today it’s the fifth most requested song at funerals. Wow!
Who DOES want to live forever?
I think about it on occasion. Wouldn’t it be remarkable to see the advancements in our world through science if we lived indefinitely? To watch our children, grandchildren and great children grow and mature. To see illnesses cured and the environment healed.
Or not. If no one died it would certainly be a very crowded planet.
At what age would we stop aging? In our 20’s, 30’s, 40’s, 80’s? Or would aging be incredibly slow? An entire industry – the anti-aging industry would be wiped out. Maybe even the vitamin and supplement industry.
What about hospitals, physicians and medical researchers? No need for them if we are immortal. BUT could we still get sick or injured and would we be relegated to live sick and injured forever?
I’ve spent a bit of time contemplating this.
On the other hand what if we were able to live long, healthy, extended lives, into our 100’s and one day the body just gives out or we decide we are done? We feel complete.
We have accomplished goals, made contributions to the planet and our community and family. We have lived life fully and with gusto. We have not taken for granted our time, our health, our planet or the people around us?
What if we have known exactly what we have and used that time wisely? We taught each other the value of a life well lived. A life that is not simply ego-centric. Life lived without fear of judgment or ridicule. We did not harm ourselves, harm others or get our good off of the backs of others.
Exercise is a pleasure and done to keep our body healthy and our minds happy. It’s a big part of who we are and not what we HAVE TO do. We incorporate it into our lives.
The planet is respected and protected because we know it has to sustain us for the long haul. Alternatives to plastics and fossil fuels are the norm and not the exception to keep us and our world thriving. Imagine how many diseases this behavior would eradicate.
All farmers could farm organically and use natural means to prevent pests. Then we wouldn’t be putting pesticides in our bodies, water and air and, therefore, preventing cancers, lung, heart and digestive diseases.
Live longer, do more. Build more schools, homes, wells, sanitary disposal methods. Clean drinking water for all!
The few would not need to hoard or amass untold wealth because simple pleasures would be easily attainable, respected AND appreciated.
If you knew you were going to live for 100 years or more would you want to live with hate, filth, and corruption knowing it was a long haul and you would have to endure those conditions for possibly centuries?
Then why do we do it now knowing our lives are relatively short?
Don’t we know that aging is a precious gift and not everyone around us will have the luxury of aging?
Instead of being so nonchalant about our lives, bodies, minds and environment we need to nurture ourselves to have the best life possible, for as long as possible.
I hear people saying right now “but I haven’t taken care of myself. I have all these problems.” There is no time like the present to turn your life around to be the best it can be right now.
It may not be perfect. But what is perfect? It WILL be better.
I have a picture of myself at age 2 or 3. In the picture is me, my father, my grandmother, my great- grandmother and my great, great grandmother. 5 generations! Not many can say they have lived long enough to have a photo taken of 5 generations of their family.
My earliest family was from hearty stock. They lived at a time where medical advances were taking hold and where life wasn’t full of manufactured toxins, disposable conveniences and distractions. They also lived at a time where money and stuff wasn’t the sum total of your worth. Granted, they also lived at a time where vaccines weren’t so readily available and medical interventions were just taking hold. But they all lived into their late 80s and early 90s.
Exercise or simply day to day movement, healthier, home grown food, a sense of community and a positive outlook were integrated into their lives. These were not elements they had to seek out, pay for or make time for in the course of the day. They were the course of the day.
Who has time to live well and be healthy,
You do!
We have modern conveniences to help us live simpler, healthier lives.
Park your car farther away from the entrance to a store and get a little walk in. Climb the stairs. And if you can’t do that, turn on your computer and find a chair workout on YouTube.
What interests you? Read about it. Can’t afford a book? A library card is free and so are the books. Or spend a quarter at a library book sale. You can hack the heck out of life to make it better.
Aging doesn’t have to be a slog and it isn’t forever.
You say you were dealt a crappy hand of cards? You may not be able to turn it into a royal flush but what about a pair? (Sorry for the poker pun.)
You get the whole lemons into lemonade thing, right?
There are people much worse off than any of us just – as they say- CRUSHING IT! If we just sit feeling sorry for ourselves we rot. We disintegrate and fade from existence. There is so much out there within our grasp to make life better. Not perfect, but better.
“Who wants to live forever?” Forever can be lived in a day.
One beautiful day.
Live it.
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Bio:
KaZ is a published and produced playwright and songwriter, a television writer/producer, screenplay editor, commercial writer, voice over writer and short film writer. She has four books published with a boutique publishing house and has also been published in anthologies, compilations, articles on line and in hard copy magazines.
KaZ has a passion for animal welfare. She’s worked with domesticated and wild animals including work as a veterinary technician. She is also a new member of the SNS Council and will serve as the SNS editor.
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