The first area of interest I explored was what dominant social practices and views are attributed with "centenarians". Through my research (primarily internet due to lack of time and specific resources) I found that there are many traditions that celebrate centenarians, and even super centenarians (those who live to 110+). Since 1983, NBC's Today Show has announced and wished a happy 100th birthday to anyone who reaches the milestone, and in the United States it is a tradition that new centenarians receive a letter of congratulations from the president. Similarly, in the UK the Queen addresses their achievement through a personal letter, and those who reach 100 in Japan receive a silver cup in addition to recognition. Some countries, such as Ireland, even pay those who survive long enough as a reward for reaching 100 years of age (Irish Times)! When it comes to other popular culture mentions, the Swedish birthday song wishes the person, "...may you live for a hundred years," (Scandinavius) and Judaism has the common phrase "may you live to be 120 years old." It is clear to me that this number for some reason is given the utmost significance, as if the moment we reach 100 years the clouds will part, the sun will shine, and all shall be fine. Of course it means quite the opposite, marking another year closer to a surprisingly long delay of the inevitable: illness and eventual dying.
Because everyone seems to have this goal, I next searched for trends and patterns in those who HAVE been able to stave off illness and death for a century- who better to learn from than those who have spat in the face of time? I found one particularly interesting summarization of a trend in centenarians in Okinawa, Japan (This was surmised by John Santrock in his book "A Topical Approach to Life-Span Development). Five major factors were found to be shared among Okinawan centenarians, ranging from diet to spirituality. I found it particularly interesting that something as simple as a sense of purpose could be considered a virtual life-extender, especially considering just how direct the other factors are toward maintaining health (keeping active, staying stress-free, being well supplied with care, a fixed diet, etc.).
Finally, I decided to take what I had learned from my research and class to construct a series of meaningful questions for an interview. In the hot-seat was none other than my grandma Jane, and at 81 years old she remains confident that one day she will join the fabled "100 club". My first question was if she was afraid of dying, which was followed by an immediate "yes". When I asked how she could be afraid of something like death she told me that she didn't know how to explain such fear. She is afraid of never "being" anymore, almost as if she had never existed in the first place. Later on in the interview she would extinguish this fear by realizing she had been taking part in a great ripple effect all along- her children, grandchildren and overall lineage would not be as they are today if not for her doing. To Jane, being dead means that you no longer exist in the real world as a physical being, but rather as an effect on those who continue to "be" even after one's departure. However, this doesn't necessarily make her feel better about dying, because to her reaching 100 years of age would mean she gets to see how her grandchildren's lives turn out, and continue to play a role in their "journey". She wants to continue to play this active role, and live to at least 100, maybe even more as long as she in "not in pain or have alzheimer's".
Perhaps the last question was most touchy- when the unfortunate time comes, how would she like her dying to be handled? If she were suffering and saw imminent doom ahead of her, would she resort to the hospital for one last glimmer of hope? Or would she accept what has to be accepted and make her last moments meaningful ones not only for herself but for her family? Naturally, she chose to die at home, surrounded by her family. It seemed to me that by all of her responses, nearly all of her drive to live on for the next 19+ years is not for the benefit and preservation of herself, but for the well-being and care for her family. Perhaps after 81 years of life and seeing most of your friends fall ill before you, one comes to realize that what's more important at this stage of the game is how you create a ripple effect on future generations, not how you plan on being "invincible" for the sake of avoiding the emptiness and the nothing that is death.
Maybe the greatest lesson here is that at one point in life (usually the one we are all in right now as teenagers) we all see ourselves standing on the summit of time that is 100 years of life, but for the enjoyment and sake of ourselves. However, one day (usually around Jane's age) we see our bodies begin to succumb to the toll of time, and rather than live for our own sakes, we go on for our brothers, sisters, children and grandchildren, pursuing a different kind of richness- having an effect on our continuing loved ones. In the end, whether it be the result of genetics or technique, men and women around the world continue to walk on the stones of years, effectively evading the least common denominator that has and will always catch us all: illness and death.
Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centenarian
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2006/0328/breaking61.htm
http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=sv&u=http://www.scandinavius.com/sweden/sesongs.html&ei=I38yTcOQC4O78gb0iYnVCA&sa=X&oi=translate&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CBoQ7gEwAA&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dswedish%2Bbirthday%2Bsong%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dsafari%26rls%3Den%26prmd%3Divns
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6T38-40NMTCR-B&_user=10&_coverDate=04%2F15%2F2000&_rdoc=1&_fmt=high&_orig=search&_origin=search&_sort=d&_docanchor=&view=c&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=b700f6df21d3b04197a013d03eaa1279&searchtype=a
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/2194078/Blood-tests-could-be-used-to-predict-lifespan.html
ok I am going to start with the negative and leave on a positive note.
ReplyDeleteI don't think you answered your own question as to why we want to live to a 100, or at least did not make it clear.
"I found it particularly interesting that something as simple as a sense of purpose could be considered a virtual life-extender, especially considering just how direct the other factors are toward maintaining health (keeping active, staying stress-free, being well supplied with care, a fixed diet, etc.)."I thought that this one of the most insightful quotes because you seem to sum up what makes a optimal life. I think you could have expanded on this point and make it stronger by relating to how this could be an effect of the social practices and if this is seen in our culture.
"In the end, whether it be the result of genetics or technique, men and women around the world continue to walk on the stones of years, effectively evading the least common denominator that has and will always catch us all: illness and death." This quote shows how you took a simple question about age and allowed it to connect to everyone from a elder in their 80s to a child. You show how we all must face death. From even just learning how to walk to lying down ill in a hospital, this question can relate to me, you, and anyone else. You show how we all can't be 100 yet we can all relate to it.
ReplyDeleteI learned a few interesting tidbits of how different cultures honor this milestone, and I am glad to hear my mother is bullish about living to be 100, to see how her grandchildren turn out. But I wish that there had been more depth to this blog entry and to the interview. I think it's nice, but not all that surprising (or interesting) to ask people if they want to live to be 100 and how they get there (good diet, spirituality, etc.). I think it would have been more interesting to ask how people at the 'midway' point of life feel knowing that they are closer to death than birth; how we view our own mortality and to what lengths we would be willing to go to stay alive (and ultimately, DNR or no DNR); if we would really want immortality if we could have it, and the ramifications both personally and as a society if there were such a thing; and more realistically, the ramifications of an ever-growing aged population due to the 'miracles' of science.
ReplyDeleteMom... you have to sign yourself as 'Mom' when you comment! :P
ReplyDeleteEvan,
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, I laughed out loud at the two comments above :p
Second of all, I agree with Eloise about you answering your questions; your post was full of interesting ideas about perspective of death, and selflessness with age. (I especially enjoyed your metaphor in "In the end, whether it be the result of genetics or technique, men and women around the world continue to walk on the stones of years, effectively evading the least common denominator that has and will always catch us all: illness and death.") Although lovely to read and visualize, it still did not answer your question of the meaning and appeal of living to be 100.
Additionally, I recommend changing your introductory sentences; I know that you were trying to tie the reader in and be interesting, but truly, does EVERYONE want to live to be 100? is it really a dream commonly shared by ALL? Be careful with gross generalizations.
Evan,
ReplyDeleteNiiiice post. I like the idea of living to be 100 I think it gives people a reason to do what they can to keep going and stay healthy. My favorite part is when you said: " Maybe the greatest lesson here is that at one point in life (usually the one we are all in right now as teenagers) we all see ourselves standing on the summit of time that is 100 years of life, but for the enjoyment and sake of ourselves. However, one day (usually around Jane's age) we see our bodies begin to succumb to the toll of time, and rather than live for our own sakes, we go on for our brothers, sisters, children and grandchildren, pursuing a different kind of richness- having an effect on our continuing loved ones." I thought this was a very insightful idea and I agree with it. I wonder though wouldn't it be hard to keep going if you can't do all the stuff you used to be able to do and you're living for other people?
Evan,
ReplyDeleteI honestly loved the topic you chose. It was surely original to the point! After reading your post, 100 years of living seems like a milestone I would love to make. It does seem our society puts a big emphasis on those who are present in our world's best and worst of times. Though I believe your post is cleverly written, a copy of the actual interview wouldn't hurt.
Bianca