Sole Survivor
A long, healthy life is promised to no one. Living your life, trying to make all the right choices of food, exercise, etc. may impact the amount of years that you spend on this earth and your quality of life while you are here but, as the old saying goes, “you can’t take it with you” and no one lives forever. I accept this to be true.
If I am to believe that the normal life expectancy of a man these days is seventy six years, then I have already used up most of that, having passed my seventy fifth birthday over a month ago. I suppose when you are a lot younger, you do not spend much time thinking about getting old, the changes that come with aging and when the day arrives and your time is up, so to speak. In reality, life “expectancy” is just a number that someone came up with, based on whatever criteria they used to arrive there. So at what point in one’s life does this “number” grab our attention? If I make it to seventy six, should I be happy if that’s as far as I get? No. I saw a video on YOUTUBE, regarding ex-president, Jimmy Carter celebrating his 100th birthday. Wow! Talk about exceeding the life expectancy by so many years. What is the current state of his overall health? Considering the changes that seem to happen in the later years of one’s life, hopefully he is in good overall health and still thriving at 100.
I know not what tomorrow brings. As the sole remaining survivor in my family, I am thankful for every day that I am given, realizing that a long healthy life is promised to no one and all I can do to is make the right choices in everything I do and be thankful for love in my life, and a medication free existence. Thrive or survive. It’s easy to focus attention on my mortality and vulnerability and I believe that what goes on in your mind directly affects what happens to the rest of your body. Negative vibes in your thoughts make bad things happen to your being. I have no false illusions that tell me, “Stop worrying. You are destined to live to a ripe old age”. But I have to do what I can do to stay healthy and happy and what happens beyond this is truly out of my control. One day at a time until my time is up. And I will leave this world knowing that until it all ends, that I did it my way, made my own choices and stood by the results. Health and happiness. Feed my soul with a promise that be it days or years, each one will be fulfilling and valuable.