Life expectancy is a scary thing to discover

Scouring the internet for stories isn’t always a good idea because you never know what you’ll stumble across. A picture of a hairy-chested man in panties. No telling. Some of it just isn’t uplifting.

For example, I was in my “happy place” the other day when I stumbled across this factoid: Men in the U.S. have an average life expectancy of 75.8 years, according to the CDC.

This was for the year 2025.

On average, women live four years longer, 79.4 years.

What’s the moral of that story, I have no idea.

Grow some boobs? What? Obviously, I have plans on living to at least 100, but as the saying goes, the best laid plans often go awry.

But what if the CDC’s number does apply to me, what do I want to do with the 5.8 years I have left?

Spend every dime I have on fun and frivolity, illegal pursuits, or play with the grandkids?

It is a conundrum, although I’m leaning toward the grandkids because outside my marriage, they give me the most joy.

Stoic Wisdom

No one likes to think about their own mortality, except for the ancient Stoics.

Their philosophy was grounded in wisdom.

Such as, wrote the Stoics: “Most people waste their time and energy on trivial pursuits, petty arguments, or worries about things outside their control (e.g. politics). The thought that you could die at any moment is a powerful antidote to this. It reminds you that your time is a finite and precious resource, urging you to focus on what truly matters – living a virtuous life.”

The ancient Stoics believed that by contemplating death, you would cultivate a deeper appreciation for the present moment and the people in your life. This practice extends to loved ones, prompting you to remember that they, too, are mortal. This perspective makes you more grateful for the time you have with them.

So very, very true. The Stoics also believed that the fear of death is more insidious and harmful than death itself. By intellectually confronting and meditating on the concept of death, a person can strip away its “phantom terrors” and see it as a natural, inevitable process.

As the Greek Stoic Philosopher Epictetus (50 to 135 AD) taught his students: “It's not death or pain that is to be dreaded, but the fear of pain or death.”

So “be not afraid” should be our life’s motto.

Out of all the ancient Stoic sayings, which was a vibrant philosophy in Greece and Rome for approximately 600 years between 300 BC and 300 AD, my personal favorite is: “You have power over your mind — not outside events. Realize this and you will find strength.” (Marcus Aurelius.)

Bottom line — live for today with no thought for tomorrow.