Lifespan and Life's purpose variations
You know, it’s funny—
While I know in theory that people’s lifespans can vary greatly - duh -
Sometimes it hits me differently.
So, I have a 95 year old neighbor. As I write this she’s making beans and frying potatoes in her own home, where she lives alone. I guarantee you she has gotten in and out of the bathtub today to take her daily bath. Later she may do some of her laundry by handwashing the items (except her linens).
Her daughter was there a bit ago when I stopped by to say hello.
She is into her 70’s and retired.
My dear neighbor has seen the birth of great great grandchildren.
I realized the other day that her daughter is already quite a bit older than my mother was when she passed.
I can’t imagine having my mother with me when I too am a senior citizen. Because my mother barely made it to retirement and senior citizen status herself. My father was a young senior, not even 65 years of age.
The idea of multiple generations, like five, encompassed in the life of my beloved neighbor, is astounding.
It is amazing to me how much more time some of us have on this earth than others.
It makes me wonder how much time I’ll have.
The people on my father’s side, usually, lived very long lives. Solid longevity genes, well into their 90’s, some of them even pushing 100.
Whereas, on my mother’s side, it was more like 80’s on one side. The other side often times did not live long due to cardiac disease and died in their early 40s.
But reflecting on how old my neighbor is and her large family of descendents also makes me think—
Some people pity those who do not have children.
While I marvel and cannot understand what existence would be like if I were them, had been born into that family, I still think this—
I realize the truth of what I’ve written about before which is this—
Some family lines have simply undergone too much trauma to carry on another generation of descendents.
Quite simply, that’s how I feel about my family and, at least for me, my line ending with me.
I believe that the influence and impact that I will leave in this world are ways that I can be of service to show love and kindness and compassion, through my relationships with friends, with neighbors, with my students.
I can do this instead—without continuing on with intergenerational harm or trauma, that I’m quite certain would have happened had I had babies that I was trying to raise right now.
My imprint on this world will be in different ways and without the imprint of generational harm and trauma inflicted onto the next generation.
I take comfort in that.