Originally Posted by Blade View Post
QUESTION 3/11

Would you like to know the precise date of your death?
Why or why not??


I think I'd like to know when I was going to die, and I'm not so big on the how part.

I believe it would be a lot easier to be kinder and more thoughtful if I knew when. I could be more forgiving to people who were unkind and thoughtless. I could be more generous with my time. I could plan ahead and tie up what might be considered loose strings that my family might have to take care of. I could go through things and designate them to the children (knowing there would be no more). I could pay in advance for that cremation and save the kids the trouble. I could write my own obituary! I could print out all of the emails between me and my wife (many of them sappy or silly) and make a little after-I'm-gone book for her. I could work on doing some repairs that I've been putting off. I would keep my desk more tidy and organized. I could sit down and patiently make a video for each kid that will remind them of how I feel about them and how they've changed my life and put them away to be viewed later. So much that could be done. I wouldn't have time to be worried or depressed about anything at all.

I grew up believing I would die at fifty, like the majority of my family does. By majority I mean there are only a couple of us over fifty. When I turned fifty one I was...astonished.

Sure I can do a lot of those things still, and some of them I do, but there's that little procrastinator in me that puts some things off. Still.

Originally Posted by Blade View Post
QUESTION 3/11

Would you like to know the precise date of your death?
Why or why not??




I would love to know the precise date of my death only because (and there is no pun intended here) I work better with deadlines. Deadlines help me to budget my time and resources for maximum benefit.

Kobi, I totally get that! I, too, do my best work under pressure. In fact, when there is no pressure, nothing usually gets done at all, lol. :)

It seems the reality of my eventual death, as irrefutable as it is, has had little impact on my life so far, so I don’t believe an exact date would move me. At least not in any direction I would enjoy. I could see it making me more anxious and stressed as I tried to do more, be more, live more, give more, take more and just all around incorporate more into my everyday existence.

My days are already numbered, as are everyone’s, and although I know this, I still have to remind myself to live in the moment, to appreciate every minute, to be thankful for the precious gift of life, to enjoy the people I love, to tell them and show them what they mean to me, to never miss an opportunity to experience life. If understanding that life is finite hasn’t taught me to appreciate every single day, I can’t imagine that having a date for my death will.

Of course it would allow me to be better prepared. Have my affairs in order so to speak. I guess I’m just one of those people who isn’t all that interested in ordering my affairs. I’ll have to give that some thought.

But knowing the number of my days wouldn’t help me be more present in my life. It might even distract me. It’s hard enough some days to remember to enjoy life no matter how it’s going. Each one of my days is precious because it’s a singular occurrence and will never come around again. Sometimes that’s a happy thought; most times it’s not. But it’s always the truth and to remember that as the day unfolds matters to me. I am not always successful but when I am it is awesome. It fills me with wonder and a determination not to miss a moment of my life. Doesn’t last though and moment after moment tumbles away unnoticed or unappreciated. I don’t think knowing the exact time of my death will slow anything down for me.

Resurrection of this thread
 

I personally would not want to know when or how I will die. I think that I would spend all my time thinking about it or worrying about it. I like to live my life in the moment and believe that things happen for a reason, when they are supposed to... Just me :)

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~ I guess when u realize its falling on deaf ears ? ~ lol

In my opinion, you are interferring when you get way too close for comfort and people around you seem annoyed with you.

You know when you're interfering when you get that certain feeling right before you say or do something you shouldn't say or do. My throat tightens a bit, or I may get a queasy feeling in my stomach, or my salivary glands might tingle, or I might get nervous ... it all depends on the situation, but I know when I'm interfering and I know when I shouldn't do it.

Good question, Blade.

lol, is it technically interfering when you harrass someone into taking time out of their life to dig through a book to find a question all for the sake of your own amusement?

:tease:

It's a great thread and it was crying out for resurrection! Thank you for indulging my request. I will be back to answer the question later this week, but I do have to get some sleep before work first.

:)

I know I'm "interfering" when I pay close attention to what sort of reaction I'm getting. Typically, people don't react negatively to non-intrusive behaviors in my experience.

Personally, I know I can be meddlesome at times when I care about someone - it isn't done out of malice, but rather a genuine concern for someone's best interest (because naturally, I, who can barely run my own life, knows precisely what someone else needs, lmao). But you know what I mean....

I'm sure I can't be the only one. :)

The most important part is that I mostly recognize my tendency to do this - which I did not always - and I do try to reign it in. A lot. And it has substantially improved my interpersonal relationships.

I like all of your answers. Sometimes I don't think we realize we are interfering. We think we are giving good advice, though it may be unsolicited. Then again there are people who insist on interfering in others lives. I'm sure we all know someone like that. Mother in law, coworker, parent.

Question 12/27/14

Why do some cultures value aging and others cultures despise aging?

How does your culture regard aging?

Have you been effected by your cultures view on aging?

I guess I it becomes interference when your influence is causing the person to make decisions not based on what they want, but based on what you want.

I think some cultures despise the aging because they consume less.

Wow.. this thread.

does it really all matter. All we have is this one moment. What ... ya wanta go back and make things right or do things you havent...Guess what you have now.. and thats it

I think some cultures value aging because they veiw them as wise, or having wisdom. Perhaps they value them simply due to respect of their elders I don't really know.
I think the culture of the working world despises aging and older employees. I have witnessed this, and have been on the butt end of it as well.

yes I've been effected by my cultures view on aging and in the business world as well. Both in good and not so good ways.

I had said I think some cultures despise the aging because they consume less. I meant, because they buy less. Maybe you thought I meant, because they eat less?

My upbringing taught me that age = wisdom and deserves respect, for without them we would be nothing and have nothing

the culture in which I live (those surrounding me in society/media etc) seem to have no value for those who are older, on all levels. The media bashes looks and how people are not aging well....the gov't takes funding away from the aging as if they don't matter...people make comments all over the place with a down their nose kind of way about those who are older.

I have been effected by my upbringing and hold true to what I was taught as a youth. I value those who are older and I always will. I think they have much to teach...I find beauty in them that I do not see else where...and much more.

That being said...it doesn't mean I completely embrace the fact I am getting old. However, it has nothing to do with my view of those who are older and everything to do with how my aging body makes me physically feel. I don't mind my grey/white hair...I don't mind the wrinkles that I notice here and there (maybe because I don't have many)...I don't even mind embracing my age when folks ask. I just don't like losing my ability to be independent or the feeling of my body being broken at times.