What are your thoughts on the concept of living a very long life?

I have no thoughts about the concept of living a very long life. Some people are allotted a long life, many more, are not. It doesn't really matter to me, not one little bit.

I suppose we all hope for a long life, but I mean, should we? How is our quality of life going to be? Will we be cared for? What will the quality of that care be? We know the answer to that depends on the almighty dollar. The wealthiest people probably live longer because they get the very best of care.

That is a whole other topic, and I fear I will become enraged if I delve into the injustice of our health-care systems (from my perspecive as a Canadian and neighbor of the US). And btw, it is not only the fact that the wealthiest recieve the very best Healthcare, but also they have the ability to live fulfilling lives. They are eating the best food, travelling, affording therapy, personal trainers, ect.... Except for Trump who eats goddamn McDonald's. Can you imagine. Fuk, so disgusting.

Oops,  I got off track.

I do believe we have so much to learn from our elders though, and they deserve respect and care. On the other hand wisdom does not necessarily come with age, does it? It's a matter of whether they have served in some way. That is how we grow. Through service. Through giving ourselves in some way, to those who need whatever it is we can give them. We will be selfish crabby old people, otherwise. We will be unhappy and bitter. We will be spiteful and mean, caring only about ourselves.

But we also have to understand that an elder may be feeling like crap physically. That could be why they have that expression on their face. So we must look at the whole picture, not just what we see. Pain can change people. Ooof,  embarrassing story coming up.

When our kids were little we went to a a community pancake breakfast. I think it was Christmas time. Anyway this old lady seemed so crabby. She appeared as if she was scowling at people. I walked by her and she looked at me with that same expression. So I gave her my worst nasty look, right back. And her face became shocked. 

Oh my. I have always felt remorse for that. I think that was just naturally the way her face was, with her age. She looked at me, not understanding. I'll never forget that. If I'd had more guts I would have apologized. 

What I've learned in my life, growing up in a First Nations community, is the importance of caring for our elders, but equally as important as providing love and care, is learning from them. They have some things to teach us. All of them. Even the ones who have committed the worst transgressions. Even they have something to teach us. 

And you know, even the hardened ones, can teach us, can they not? Maybe we are missing out if we exclude the elders who we deem as not having lived an honerable life. Aren't all living beings, deserving of care? Anyone can change. Anyway we are powerless over who we are and who we become. I am a staunch determinist, as you know.

I think if we spend time with elders, we can reach a part of them that can teach us. No matter what we think of them and our judgements. I worked in group homes for elders with intellectual disabilities and I learned to be humble. I learned about grace. I learned to move slowly. I learned about human dignity. I learned gentleness by watching other carers use rough hands and speak with impatience. I learned the simple act of giving Olive a manicure was of vital importance to her mental health. I saw her glow. I saw her eyes sparkle. What goddamn intellectual disability did Olive have? She was Olive. She was herself. How do we really know what she could understand and know just because she didn't speak from her mouth?

I'm off the rails again, lol. 

So, in conclusion, after going down many side roads, I will say that I have zero fucks to give concerning living a long life. Living a very long life is mostly reserved for the privileged anyway, if we're being honest. I mean, we only need to look at the royal family, to see proof that wealth alots the very best in healthcare; thus, raising the odds that they will live to be quite old.

But really, where is the quality of life? I think living a good life is more important than living a long life. Or I should say, doing good works in your life is vitally more beneficial than living a very long life, in the scheme of things. I hope that even though I am no longer directly participating in society that somehow I can give something to the world. I've been told it isn't valid though, so idk. 

If I can muster the courage, I would like to volunteer to spend time with elders, or prisoners. We forget about prisoners, do we not?  

PS fun fact. There are vastly more dead people on the planet than living people. It can't even be estimated how many dead people we walk over each and every day.

As always, thanks so much for reading this!