When Will You Die?
Let’s talk about death for a second. More specifically, your death. When do you think it will happen?
No, I’m not trying to freak you out. Honestly. A recent survey showed that 1 in 7 teens think they’ll die an early death. That’s almost 15% of teenagers that don’t think they’ll live to see their 35th birthday.
Not surprisingly, the study shows that this kind of belief leads to riskier behavior among teens. We’re talking greater drug use, unprotected sex, and violence. So I have to ask: if a person thinks they’re going to die young, are they more likely to start making riskier choices in life OR is it the people who already make those risky choices that think they’re going to die young?
So what do you think? How long will you live? And how do your thoughts on death affect how you live your life now?
5 Comments
Ahhhhh! Stress inducing topic, Josh. The way we choose to answer this question majorly effects the quality of our lives. For some, accepting that your time will eventually run out makes them want to do more with the life they have. Others will say what the point of doing stuff if I’m going to die in the end? No matter how you look at it, death is never a happy thought! By the way, check out this scientist who says there are people already born that will live 1000 years! If I was going to live 1000 years I’d be the biggest procrastinator.
http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/aubrey_de_grey_says_we_can_avoid_aging.html
I think that the people who make those kinds of risks are going to be the people who think they are going to die young. As a young person if you you either think or know you are going to die young I think you uare going to make smarter risks. You’re going to see more places, meet more people, and do more things. I don’t think they are are gonna take exreme risks just because they think they are gonna be dead soon. I don’t know how long I’ll live but even though I’m a younger person that doesn’t mean I’m not prepared. I don’t think I’ll die young but I make sure my wishes are known in case something does happen. I always feel like whether you think you’re going to die soon or not you should live your life to it’s fullest and experience everything you want to.
It is kind of both put together. I can’t really speak for most people here because I have had three near death experiences in the past few years and been told after two of them to expect to die earlier than I otherwise might have lived. For me that doesn’t make me want to go jump off a cliff, ohh wait I did rappel off a 200 foot one…But seriously there are risks that I take but I can’t say that I wouldn’t have taken them before I was told I might die early. There are just more precautions that I take to make sure my risks don’t take away from the quality of life that I have, in the time I am given. I’d rather my experiences enhance my life and my perspective on life.
My point is that there are somethings that you do that are a little more risky when you have been told you have a shorter life. There are also certain things that you are more cautious about when taking or abstaining from those risks.
I think the people who are going to die young are the people who are making riskier choices. And also, those who are already unhappy due to medical issues (speaking for my friends who have said these things). I think something has to lead to someone thinking that way. You can’t think “I’m going to die young” and THEN start illicit practices, I don’t think that makes sense. That 1 in 7 was already knee deep in problems.
I don’t think that people who believe they’ll die young are necessarily messed up. I’m a big advocate for the whole “seize the day” thing. I’m not going to wait to do the things I love for retirement. I may not make it to retirement. If I do, I’m not complaining. I’ll love and live everyday of my 90th year, but I only know that I have this moment. Besides, I don’t believe death will be that bad. I’ll have to leave some people I love, but that happens to everyone eventually. Not to be morbid… but death isn’t something I’m totally scared of. It’s like that whole dead poet society quote from thoreau: “To put to rout all that is not life and not, when I had come to die, discover that I had not lived.” I’d be way more scared of that fate.