Ending Life Well: Conversations & Connections Never-Ending Search By Alex Trevino , Caregiving and End of Life Specialist
People have been obsessed with the quest for immortality for generations. People pursue countless remedies to “cure” death. Unfortunately, this desire to preserve life leads some to pursue bizarre, uninformed, and even irrational solutions. One of the best-known examples of this is the search for the Fountain of Youth. The legend speaks of a miraculous spring that restores youth and vitality to everyone who drinks its waters. Many historical cultures were drawn to the dream of avoiding the consequences of aging. Many spent resources, time, and even their own lives in pursuit of the Fountain of Youth, to no avail. As living beings, it is “normal” to pursue a prolonged life. And fear of death is natural and understandable— even overwhelming. Medical research and the discovery of new health protections, treatments, and cures for disease are undoubtedly signs of “success” in our constant pursuit of longevity. However, some of the fear-motivated pursuits underscore our fundamental dread of death. We doggedly turn our eyes from the life cycle, and instead, deny and avoid the reality of our ends.
Undoubtedly, we navigate many obstacles in our life journeys. But if we succumb to the fear of death, we risk losing sight of what matters most and gives life value. Life’s troubled waters can force us to concentrate on the quantity of life and distract us from pursuing quality of life . We can easily miss the opportunity to truly value each moment we spend with our loved ones and to become more involved in our community. It can also distance people from activities that enrich a person’s life like helping others and volunteering. Perhaps it is more fruitful to focus on living fully with the time we have rather than pursue the “Fountain of Youth’s” elusive waters. Avoiding thoughts and discussions about death also limits our understanding, growth, and ability to make informed decisions. Consequently, this leaves many ill-prepared to process their fear, sadness, and grief. And it can prevent a person from making necessary preparations related to end-of-life care planning. Perhaps we have made a mistake when choosing our priorities in our never- ending search for immortality. Instead of looking for the Fountain of Youth, maybe we would be wiser to look for the fountain of acceptance. In other words, instead of seeking the cure for
death, we may benefit from seeking the cure for the fear of death. If we do, a time may come when as individuals we dedicate ourselves to living each day to the fullest and accept the inevitability of death as a natural part of the life cycle. If you would like to explore more about living, quantity of life, quality of life, and dying, you can reach out to PCOA’
Caregiving and End-of-Life Specialists by calling the Helpline at (520) 790-7262.
August 2023, Never Too Late | Page 21
Pima Council on Aging
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