Life and Death

Let's face it. Life is short, and it is not even guaranteed. Anybody can die at any time, so we'd better make the best of what we have. We should live hard and play hard (which doesn't mean being irresponsible). We should not forget that we can die tomorrow. We should make sure that if that happens, we have as little as possible to regret. But since death is inevitable, we should also realize that it is not a good idea to overstay our welcome in this world. When it's time to go, it's time to go...

Maintain a reasonably healthy lifestyle. If you are married or you have kids, buy a good life insurance. You don't want to cause any hardship in case you have to leave early. Other than that, don't worry. Have fun!

I have seen great people degenerate with age. It ain't pretty. I have seen families being bankrupted by medical bills, trying to save someone who can't be saved. It ain't pretty. There was something to be said about sudden, massive heart attacks. I don't know why they got such a bad rep. I don't want to judge others or tell them what to do. But I know one thing. When I have gotten old to the point where I am a burden, it will be my wish to terminate my life. If nobody helps me, I will do it myself. It is a matter of dignity.

What do you live for? Just trying to get as old as possible? If goal is to experience life, some of these could be measure: # friends, #lovers, #countries visited, achievements, number of people whose life you made major difference for.

Keep in mind. You don't get any better when you get old. A man improves to probably about 30 and 35. A woman somewhere between 27 and 30. After that, everything gets worse. You lose hair, lose endurance, get sagging breasts, decreased hormones and sex drive, worse memory. You start relying more on your accumulated experience to determine your market value. But the truth is, just about anybody would rather be under 30. It only gets worse after 60 or 70, so don't worry about staying around for too long.

Somehow, the American Heart Association doesn't get it. A good, massive heart attack was a good and dignified way to leave this world.

I admire people with terminal illness, who refuse food or treatment. Over in a week.

The worst is when you get a stroke and become a vegetable. You can't even ask anyone to let you go. It happened to an aunt. She had notes everywhere, but nobody had the courage to do it.

When it's time to go, it's time to go!

Nobody should ever be forced to die, but nobody should be forced to live either.

When spending huge resources trying to prolong a life, we should bear in mind that those same resources could be spent to immunize or treat a sick kid.

There are several ways to have a worth-while life. One is to try to make your life as long as possible, which may mean being so careful that you can barely do anything. The other one is to live as hard as possible, which may result in a slightly shorter lifespan.

Man was not created to live long. Technology has somewhat prolonged his life, but essentially, once you are past thrity, you are going downhill. You have to start worrying about rotting teeth, heart attacks and prostate cancer. Man was made to enjoy life. When he lived in nature, that's what his goal was. What is enjoyable, was good for him and for the species. Pleasure was nature's way of approving.

Disasters will always happen. You can't plan for all of them. You just have to live.

Sentenced to die vs. right to die. Our society has always made heroes out of people who die in the name of Freedom. If Freedom is indeed more valuable, the death penalty could be less of a punishment than emprisonment.

Healthy lifestyle buys you a couple extra years at the end. But are those couple extra years really worth it?

He who has the most interesting experiences, wins.

My grandfather: his last years were not that great. And he was healthy!

Don't count on your retirement to do the things you always wanted to do. Chances are, your body will not let you anymore. Seize the day.

Goals in life: (I am between humanist and epicurist)

• Materialist: he, who dies with the most toys, wins
• Epicurist: he, who had the most interesting experiences (fun), wins.
• Humanist: he, who did the most good to others, wins
• Health nut: he, who live the longest, wins
• Religious fanatic: he, who has spent the most time in church, wins.

Focus has always been on longevity at any cost, even at the cost of enjoyment. Increase in cost of medical care has contributed. Especially trend to treat at any cost. What was wrong with dying of heart attack at 60?

Before 30, it is very unusual if someone has to worry about cancer or other degenerative diseases.

Go for it. You can only regret what you don't try. If you try hard enough, one day you are bound to get lucky.

I am almost 35. That means I have about 20 years of a decent life left. It is time to start something big.

I don't know why people have that obsession with longevity. Especially when it means delaying rewards and gratification to the distant future. I know very few people who live a full and productive/ vital and enjoyable life past 60 or 70.

I hear of people who have spent their lives avoiding heart disease, and then suddenly find themselves afflicted by Slzheimer's, Parkingson's or other degenerative diseases, or cancer.

It is pretty much a fact that whether man or woman, you reach your peak somewhere between 25 and 30. Physically, you just go downhill from there. Women typically do not get more attractive past 30. Neither do men, but they tend to be able to rely a little more on the "distinguished" factor.

Life is a race to get as much dome as possible. it is a given that there won't be enough time to do it all.

The absolute worst thing about aging, is to become a burden, or to lose one's dignity. Maybe retirement is not such a good idea after all. Being lonely is bad too.

Time flies. I feel like a sixteen year old, but then I see some real sixteen year olds, and they look so young and immature. Then I have to remind myself that I was sixteen almost 20 years ago.

Up to 55, chances are we will be in decent shape. After that, all bets are off. With women going through menopause, things only get worse.

Don't forget you may get breast of prostate cancer in a few years.

Live while you still have the ability to live well. Live while you are young!

The worse is feeling like you are becoming a burden. When an opportuniy comes up, never, ever hesitate! What's wrong with dying young? At least people are more likely to miss you.

I have respect for people who want to cling to life at all cost. But personally, If I ever were to had a serious heat attack or stroke, I would rather have it be a massive and fatal one.

Do the fun stuff first. You never know what may happen tomorrow.

Life is precious, and one never knows how long one may get to enjoy it. That makes it more important to enjoy every minute of it, and to seize every opportunity to live it to the fullest. I was suddenly reminded of this last time I was on vacation in Europe.

Euthanasia should be a choice (just like the death penalty). One person never has a right to take another person's life, or to talk another person into giving up on life. But if an old or sick person wants to die, he or she should have that right. They tell you that if you have sex indiscriminately, you may regret it later. But it seems to me like it would better to grow old and regret having had too much sex than to regret not having had enough.

One knows one is getting old when one starts losing sex drive.