I recently listened to a futuristic TEDx talk by Aubrey De Grey*. He suggested that the first thousand-year-old human has already been born! He was excited and enthusiastic that the science was there to make it all come together soon… the aging process could be stalled, and cell regeneration and other remedies started instead. He seemed to imply that longevity was the ultimate holy grail for the all science, the goal of life itself.
My reaction was one of feeling troubled, but also rather pleased that I was likely to escape a 1,000 (or even 100) year fate. I am older and very content to be nearing my best before date. To imagine that the point or goal of my life is to live for an extremely long time is to misstate or misunderstand my personal raison d’etre; nothing is further from the truth.
Is the meaning of life to merely live the longest, or is it to live a good life? Is the solution to mortality immortality? Is being finite better than being infinite? We are blessed with mortal and finite limitations, but it is our potential while in the finite stage that most inspires me.
Does living for longer necessarily enhance the overall quality of life? My personal guess is mine would be materially reduced. If I had that much time, where would purpose fit in? Why concern oneself with living purposefully when there is always tomorrow? Knowing I am mortal focuses my attention on making the most of my limited time on earth. Take purpose away from me and I might as well play with my smart phone ten hours a day and top that off with several hours of Netflix. Longevity is not in opposition to purpose, but it could readily take away its importance. Time has a wonderful way of clarifying one’s attention.
I would rather live deliberately and purposefully, and experience the richness and awe of life, than be in some contest as to who can outlive others without purpose. As I get older, the notion of purpose becomes more urgent, precisely because there is an end in sight.
Many of you may disagree with me and that is wonderful. Please consider how central purpose is to your life and live/plan your finite life accordingly.
*: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvWtSUdOWVI
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