How long WILL you live? How long will I live?

I have no idea.

I realize that it could be so very completely out of my hands...

I found out today that the average life span in Roman times was 26 years of age!

In 1800, almost 2,000 years later, the average age was 28!

There was high infant mortality & war that contributed to many young deaths, but there was also arguably, not a lot of reason to live longer! Life was HARD and by 30... you were tired.

I didn't understand that when I was younger, but now I do. I can see getting simply tired of living, of trying. You've done all you thought you could do - now let me go rest.

In 1950, the global life expectancy was in your late 40s. These days, its recently crossed 70!

There are so many medical breakthroughs coming... or, so futurists think... within this decade and the next. Who knows?

How long do I WANT to LIVE?

Hmmmmm... not there is a question more worthy of consideration.

Immediately, my mind goes to my boys... I want to see them grow up and find their way.

I'd love to meet my grandchildren...

I used to say, I want to live until my mind fails me. Then, I want to go quick.

But, I realize that lacks specificity. I actually have not spent a lot of time thinking about this, but as I get older, it seems like a relevant question...

Especially because there is research out there that suggests that our mindset about how long we are going to live is a material factor in how long we actually live. When our mind tells our body, "Check PLEASE!" Our bodies tend to fade quickly.

So, I am going to throw 100 out there! I want to live to 100... that sounds fun. Let's start there. That would make for a GREAT party - and it would mean next year when I turn 50, I will be HALF way there. That feels right.

I know I WANT to do what I can to live healthy - to stay active - not just to be around for future cures, but because it makes living more fun.

But, that question for me begets another one...

WHY do I live?

While the average age in the early 1800s was right below 30, the founding father's of the United States lived to almost 70, and some older than 80!

Perhaps it was because they had REASON to... they were doing something extraordinary.

Why do I live? I love my boys. I love my wife. But, the reason to make it to 100 needs to be bigger for me... or maybe doesn't "need" to be bigger, but deserves to be bigger... simply because it CAN be bigger.

Where do friends fit in? Friends, I realize today, are not WHY I live... they are what makes living fun, interesting, joyful, colorful... They are the ones that I get to share the journey with... Friends aren't WHY I live, they are a significant reason of WHY I live & love JOYFULLY.

WHY do I live? That is the question that I linger on... the one that I am trying to better understand. The one that I am trying to anchor into boldness, into authenticity, into truth, into altruism, into creativity...

I can't tell you that I know the answer right now. The easy ones are - for my boys, for my wife, for my father... and for the concept of harmony... I say "to leave the world a little better than I found it" but that is simply too general... I need my answer to be more specific.

And, perhaps all I really need is to just keep asking myself the question... "The questions alone will guide you", as Julio Olalla says.

Let me go ponder...

I have no idea how long I will live...

For now, my goal is 100. (Some say it's good to have a goal).

I will continue to work on the why.

And, when I figure that out, I might reset my goal.

Most importantly, I will be grateful for today - for the tremendous GIFT, luxury, & priviledge of being able to even consider tomorrow.