The perils and triumphs of aging well

[pleinair]

One use of a good long life, of course, is to continue to vote Democratic, but there are lots of other reasons those of us over 50 (or so) would like to live longer. In this article in The Atlantic by Ezekiel Emanuel, the author argues in favor of a lifespan limited to approximately the age of 75. My (loose) interpretation: he decries the cultural tendency he calls "American Immortality" (with all its attendant vitamins and nourishment advice) and picks the age of 75 as the ideal time to die. The primary reason: quality of life for one's self and one's children. He does not advocate euthanasia or suicide, but simply leaving Nature to its course, including cancer and infections, among other things.

The depressing part is that he cites a decline in creativity in old age. (I have to say I disagree with this) Although not named in the article, people such as Jimmy & Rosalyn Carter, Clint Eastwood, Pablo Picasso, Georgia O'Keeffe and Pablo Casals (among others) would be probably defined as "exceptions" by him.

(SPOILER ALERT) he also concludes that he has the right to change his mind (!), which is to say, everything he stated before was not to be taken at face value. Thought -provoking read:

http://www.theatlantic.com/features/archive/2014/09/why-i-hope-to-die-at-75/379329/

There is a companion article in the same issue about examples of thriving longevity.

[elleng]

1. Thinking along these lines myself

as Dad lived to 98, but I'm not 'happy' enough to do so. I think. A couple of physical issues arising, so makes this timely.

Thanks Zeke, and pleinair.

[pleinair]

2. Lots of points to agree with in this article,

but disagree with Emanuel's cite of creativity decline. Maybe wishful thinking on my part.

[elleng]

3. Yes, I'll disagree with that point.

Grandma Moses

[Helen Borg]

4. Decline in creativity?

Most people are not creative at all during their entire life! So, should they not live? Who said that creativity is the most important aspect of one's life?

[pleinair]

5. I believe every person can be creative

in any variety of expressions: art, human kindness, song, original thought, photography, conversation, writing, and on and on. I think I know what you mean, though, in terms or fame or acceptance, then no, not many people are recognized for their creativity.

[littlemissmartypants]

6. I am on the fence about euthanasia. nt

[pleinair]

9. I saw David Kessler present an all-day workshop

on the topic of death and dying--he was a close colleague and co-author with Elisabeth Kubler-Ross--and he paired off the audience members to discuss assisted suicide. "What's the dividing line?" he asked. "Would you buy them the prescription? Would you administer the medication?" I personally believe that all human life is sacred, but the woman I was talking to had actually assisted her husband's suicide, and after hearing her story I found myself without judgment.

[malthaussen]

7. If 1/2 of people 65+ are taking 5 or more prescription drugs a day...

... then it becomes immediately obvious who derives the greatest advantage from the fanatical pursuit of longevity. It has always struck me as a quality vs quantity question, and it is no surprise that the American temperment accentuates the latter.

The Stoic idea of living until life becomes insupportable, and then checking out, has always seemed emminently sensible to me. And each individual should be his own definer of what constitutes "insupportable."

-- Mal

[Demeter]

8. And how many of those prescriptions are necessary and efficacious?

We have got some pretty crappy health care in this country.

As a result, many people ignore it, abuse it, and some (who do their own research and experimentation) survive and thrive in spite of it.

You have to be your own doctor, lawyer, and advocate...fortunately with the internet, an educated person can do it. The uneducated will have to work a little harder at it, but as long as a person can learn, there's less and less reason not to.