It's a concept that seems random at best and at the most superstitious. Most consider that they perhaps have cheated death due to near death possible occurances, or near misses. Like running 5 minutes late, only to discover that there was a accident killing several people... That happened 5 minutes before you got there... And had you been on time, you could have been killed in that accident. Or you miss your flight, only to find out later that the plane crashed. Then there are some medical issues that were randomly found early, and fixed to avoid certain death situations. Then medical procedures that with a great deal of certainty saved your life by greatly reducing a very dangerous risk. Even medications that prolong life, stating off death.
So how many times have we cheated death in the past? And not really thought much about it. Thinking about creating death becomes more to the forefront of consciousness as you get older. Do we run out of the Cosmic chances to cheat death? Is there a certain number? Or does it vary person? It clearly feels like you are running out of chances with the older you get. Or perhaps it's just natural to feel this way, and there's nothing cosmic about it... It's merely a normal thought process as you near the average life span.
Early 60s in age doesn't seem to be of much concern. Approaching 70 changes your perspective. Early 70s knowingly is a bit more risky. Approaching 80, the limit of the average life span, it weighs more in your thoughts. 80 plus may feel like you are living on borrowed time. Approaching 90 is unimaginable. Everyone who knew has passed away. Everything you grew up with through adult life has drastically changed. And you must feel that there is no one that thinks or cares about you. After all, even in your 60s when your life showed down, everyone younger was so busy with their lives that you were less and less important and interactive. Approaching 90... chances are great that all your friends have passed away... kids have passed away... and possibly your grand kids have passed away. You are alone. The negative feeling about life elevated even more since society has basically written you off when you reached your 60s. And you become less significant with each passing year.
Behind 80, the older you get, life seems to be ever increasingly less insignificant. So what's more scary... Death or all the negative aspects of living into the late 80s or 90s... Not to mention health issues that will no doubt become more advanced with age.
So... What's the outlook? Uncertain at best. The best scenario? Doing your best to NOT think about it to much.
Just something to NOT think about.
At least not too much.
At least not too much.
