Sounds pretentious, right. We face death every day. A step too soon when crossing the road, an accident out of the blue, illness… we can only control life so far. And, of course, gloating and know-it-alls everywhere when fate strikes earlier…

It is heretical to talk about how long you want to live. Many people, however, live themselves sick. They eat junk, neglect their bodies and only seem to realize how precious life is when they are in need. Eliminating such ignorance from the equation of life is a first massive first step toward longevity.

I am not saying that I am or that I live any better than anyone else. Just trying to minimize life’s health risks and the bare risks of just being alive.

So far, so good

So far, so good. Feeling healthy in body and mind, controlling weight and anger – and saying no to destructive behaviors like binge intoxication. And of course a pretty strict regime of daily exercise. Will I keep it up? I do not set overly ambitious goals, with focus on elasticity of the body and well-functioning organs.

Not aiming for muscles and six-pack abs. Just a well-maintained body. Some days I feel so much positive energy and confidence from within, it’s uplifting and like a drug. High on sobriety, with the occasional letting yourself go. Of course, darker moods keep the balance. And that’s okay, too.

I’ll keep you posted. With 57 years approaching, I am a little over halfway through my life. But in life, don’t things always turn out differently than you plan.

High time to make important decisions

On the other hand, the disadvantages of long life are obvious. Most of your family and friends will be long gone.

You will have lost most, if not all, of your teeth. Walking, if at all possible, will be a struggle, as will simple daily living. Do we want that? Turning 100 means different things to different people. A life in dignity will already be a great achievement.

And with this look into the crystal ball, age is telling us how to prepare: by keeping our bodies agile and alert. That’s it. Each to his and her own. There is not much more you can do. While there is so much you can do to live this our precious life to the fullest.