Longer Or Healthier?

What are your thoughts on the concept of living a very long life?

The well received book Ikigai says that there are certain blue zones in this world where the average mortality rate is ninety nine and even hundred. The nanogenarians live healthy, eat healthy, do moderate exercise, are into community bonding and most importantly have their Ikigai in place, that is, the purpose for which one gets up in the morning. Interesting, isn’t it?

Japanese philosophy of life is intriguingly beautiful!

If you are able to lead that kind of life even a century is desirable. But in tropical climate, like ours, aging is faster courtesy stressful and unhealthy lifestyle. Lack of community bonding leads to social ostracisation. Dementia is very common which does not get treated because oldies are supposed to be cranky and forgetful.

In this scenario, living healthy is much more desirable than living longer.

I see my mother. She is ninety one. She has a complex medical history. Suffering from profound dementia, she cannot communicate or express her feelings properly. Her treatment is totally symptomatic. But by the time we come to observe the external manifestations of her ailment it’s pretty late.

She is now on BIPAP which prevents retention of carbon-di-oxide in her body. BIPAP machine works with Oxygen Concentrator. Incidentally, you can still retain the poisonous gas even if your saturation level is perfect. Since she is unable to spit out if her chest gets congested a Suction Machine is required to suck out the phlegm.

When she was last hospitalized doctor said since she had an infected body medically only limited relief was possible. Their exact words were, “You have prolonged her life by care medically it would not have been possible.” A statement which put me in a quandary. Have I prolonged her life or sufferings since she is never stable?

Mother had a very active social life. She was a powerhouse of talent. She was into cycling, badminton, swimming, amateur theatre, music et al. A very social person. An amazing cook. She had a towering personality now shrivelled up, immobile and incoherent.

Do we want a life like that?

I belong to the old school. I consider taking care of mother as my prime responsibility. The next generation is migratory post globalization. So, even if they want they will not be able to devote that much time to their ailing parents. I don’t blame them but I definitely want to underscore the need of a healthy life which means not only a fit body but an agile mind as well, least dependent on others (and machines), being part of a positively sportive community who helps infuse purpose and good vibes in every member’s heart, mind and soul.

And of course! Ikigai ….

Which you have to find for your own self. That stimulant which makes you get up in the morning with hope, zeal and zest.

Rest is in the hands of God.

I did not add a prayerful life full of gratitude and thankfulness for what we have or have not got.

It just came to my mind while writing this post that even seeing the sun rise and set every day , the moon shine and stars twinkling every night in themselves are divine blessings.

We take these for granted.

Should we….?

Mother in a play. In those days cultured Bengali families encouraged their children to participate in dance dramas written by Rabindranath Tagore or classical plays in Sanskrit, English or Bengali. Mother in the role of a queen.

Mother when she was sweet sixteen. The photograph is very old.