Have you ever wondered how you would appear inside out? That’s right. You know, your heart, lungs, intestines, and other organs lying within your physical encasement? Huh, you might say, or I never considered it since most people carry the same organs. OK, that is true, but have you imagined exploring deeper, into the cells, or further to the essence of your being, your DNA?
Are you tilting your head, saying, of course, learning about DNA, RNA, and the rest of those molecular elements in Anatomy 101? Well, let’s focus on DNA. Have you tried visualizing the majesty of your many double-helix creations that are yours alone? Ponder it for a moment. It is mind-boggling. Other than identical twins, no one carries your exact DNA.
Why does this matter? A great deal to me, since I celebrate the uniqueness of each human being along with other species. Also, many people lose sight of their uniqueness, surrendering to a humdrum existence without ever tapping into unexplored gifts.
Ask someone how long they want to live, and many would respond with eighties, nineties, or one hundred. Terrific, but once you reach a certain age and remain of sound mind and body, how will you live your life?
The answers range from spending time with friends and family. Fabulous, but will that be daily? Volunteering might be another answer. Excellent, but have you considered the passion where you will place your energies? Often, the answer to both questions is “I don’t know. I never thought about it.”
As I addressed before, suicide increases as we age, surprising the researchers of the sixty percent rise for Caucasian women, ages 44 to 64, from 2000 to 2009. It baffled those who reported these findings because no specific variable stood out.
The researchers deduced substance abuse, financial ruin, and disappointment in life.
I concur, but repeating my usual proclamation, lack of purpose and of connection are the missing culprits, causing hopelessness, depression, and worse.
The pandemic magnified this ominous situation with a twenty-five percent increase in alcohol-related deaths.
I understand. Many suffered hardship, losing their livelihood because of lockdowns, while others like me, found silver linings, blessed and unaffected thanks to the gifts of innovation.
For some, the isolation caused great distress, especially for adolescents and older adults.
This invisible tsunami also created defeat in others, but I know of some who used this painful time to appease their curiosity and explore learning opportunities.
Pre-pandemic or post, we must remind ourselves of the abundance available to us with the click of a finger.
Many people abandon desires, with excuses, “Too old,” or “Too late,” or, and I grit my teeth, “Too hard.” If you are of sound mind and body, these are paltry rationalizations.
Yes, some things require surrender, creating disappointment. That is the way it goes, but you have a choice: wallow forever or use it as an opportunity. What is that, you ask? Once you recover from your loss, stumble, or view of life’s unfairness, force yourself up, clear your head, and open your unique mind. Then prepare yourself for the rich discovery you might come upon.
Again, imagine your exquisite DNA and think about this. Nobody is better or less than you. Some discover things sooner than others, but pushing yourself through the chapters of your life, as I have written before, could reveal a riveting and unexpected end.
Revel in your uniqueness.
I believe we have one earthly life, and those of us privileged to live a long one should aspire for the best.
Why?
It may be the greatest bulwark against hopelessness and future abyss.
Although I am not a fan of George Bernard Shaw because of his eugenics leanings, I agree with some of his quotes. Here is one. “We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.”
Continue exploring the treasures in your unique mind and watch what happens.
