you are not the sum of your internet identity

April 10, 2015 6:42 AM , Leave a Comment ,

I am seeing more and more people being miserable online.

I don’t know if it’s just the time of year or something that has happened lately or maybe I just didn’t notice it but I am seeing this more and more online.

Not just on Facebook (although that’s the primary source) but on other social channels.  A sense of true dissatisfaction with one’s personal life.  People complaining that they’re going nowhere and not doing what they want to do.

I think it’s the reason why I am paying less and less attention to social media lately.  I still log on but I barely pay attention to the social media tabs anymore.

I asked two people privately why they were feeling so low and their answer was essentially that they saw the good news posted by their friends online and felt that their own accomplishments or lack thereof made them feel inadequate by comparison.  They also felt that if they couldn’t “keep up” or contribute their own accomplishments at a steady rate that they were not living a worthwhile life.

Ridiculous!

One of the flaws of the internet age is that people project themselves.  Life online and offline can be radically different.  People choose to project themselves in one way or another and it may not reflect reality.

Reminds me of a discussion I had with a high school classmate.  We were discussing going to the 20th high school reunion and he said  he would not go.  I asked him why and he said a lot of people will buy fancy clothes and rent expensive cars to make themselves look more prosperous than they really were.

I think we all do this in a way.  I know that I don’t share all my bad news and I’ve had a good dose of it this year but I don’t like to share it online.  What would be the point to share that with mainly acquaintances?  My friends know my problems already.

What I’d rather do is share positive news and hopefully cheer up or maybe even inspire positive change in people.

But I think even I have to realize that we are not the sum of all these posts online.  We are living, breathing, people.  We have to learn to see beyond the tweets and Facebook posts.

we have to make our real lives more important than our online lives.

Posted in: activities, attitude, internet, social media, social networks

go with what you have

April 8, 2015 6:36 AM , Leave a Comment ,

Back when I was just starting out in my career I worked for a small company of consultants. This was in the mid-90s and we still weren’t fully digital.  My main job was creating maps.  Maps of rivers, maps of forests, maps of roads.  Just all sorts of maps.

Since we weren’t that big we couldn’t afford the fancy mapping software of the day.  Some software packages ran up to $25000 and had $5000 a year maintenance fees.  Nothing that my bosses were eager to pay.  So we did what we could.  I would first hand draw all the maps from paper satellite images and then laboriously digitize these lines on a digital drafting tablet using some cheap $99 software package my boss had bought out of the back of some trade magazine.

I would then hand encode each and every line using the USGS Digital Line standards guide.  A phone book sized book of codes and categories.

Once all of this was done I would turn over a floppy disk over to our computer specialist who was coding and refining his own homemade mapping software and after countless edits and hours and hours of misery we would end up with a digital computer file like one generated by an expensive software package.

So what’s the benefit?  I mean other than saving money which in and of itself isn’t the most compelling reason.  I mean you could easily bake in the costs of new software into the project budgets and get yourself the new software over time.

I found later on in my career that having to do these things by hand and really delving deep into the esoteric issues of codes and hand digitizing that I got a better appreciation for data quality and for resolving issues with data from other parties.

Whereas before if I had a problem with data I would have to go through files line by line to find a glitch, after a while I developed a sense of what the problem was with a piece of data and how to resolve it.  Something that I probably would not appreciate if I would have had access to the fancy software package.

Using the tools at hand makes you more resourceful.  It allows you to get a more technical feel for the processes and the practices that govern your field, whatever that may be.

I am totally for working with the best of equipment, the best people, and the best established practices but I also think there is a lot to be said for making do with what you have and having to be creative to engineer a solution for yourself.

Posted in: advice, business

Lessons from the twilight

April 6, 2015 6:22 AM , Leave a Comment ,

Back in the 80s nerd culture was just beginning to coalesce.  I had no clue what a nerd was or that I was one.  I just did what I did and assumed it was natural.  Part of that nerd behavior was watching old 50’s and 60’s sci-fi TV shows obsessively.  I could and maybe I will at some time in the future write obsessively about other shows but I have to give a special nod to one TV show in particular, Rod Serling’s Twilight Zone.

Serling was an odd character.  Although physically small (he was only 5 foot 4 inches tall), he aggressively pursued athletics and later went into the paratroopers during World War 2.  Dismissed as lazy in his studies by his teachers he came out of the war and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Literature at Antioch College.  Repeatedly turned down by his future wife for being a playboy, he continued to court her until she agreed to marry him.  Basically a guy that went out and did those things that people said he couldn’t do.

He brought this same type of restless energy into his radio career and then into the new medium of television.  He pushed and pushed until he got the pilot show approved for the Twilight Zone.

Twilight Zone itself was a show that dealt mainly with modern polemics and age-old questions more than most shows of the era and indeed more than most shows nowadays.  The idea that the show dealt with silly or spurious topics is false.  Racism, classism, the “rat race”, death, redemption.  All of these would be recurring themes in the show.  Serling would usually begin the show with a short introduction to the topic and would also add some closing thoughts at the end of the show.  The viewer would be drawn in and encouraged to think about the topic rather than to sit back and be amused by some mindless entertainment.

 

 

Every once in a while I will stumble across one of these episodes and sometimes I can draw some parallels to what’s going on in my life at the moment and yet again I think to myself what a brilliant man Serling was.

Three episodes resonate with me at the moment and I have to admit they have resonated with me in the past as well.

 

Walking Distance

A busy executive from New York City stops by a gas station in the middle of nowhere.  While he has the oil changed in his car he notices that the town that he grew up in is nearby and decides to visit it.  He finds that he has somehow gone back in time and sees himself as a child.  He desperately wants to stay in the past but his father confronts him and tells him that he can’t and that maybe life wasn’t so bad after all.

 

Nervous man in a four dollar room

Jacky, a failed gangster, sits in a cheap hotel room trying to make a decision as to whether to murder an innocent storekeeper, as ordered by his gang boss, or quit his life of crime and reform.

As he thinks, the reflection in the room mirror talks to him.  The reflection reminds him of all his past failures and stresses Jacky’s inherent character flaws and weaknesses.

As the conversation progresses Jacky becomes increasingly anxious and frustrated.  The reflection finally challenges Jacky and tells him that he wants to take over.  The two struggle for control.

The gang boss arrives in the morning to see why Jacky hasn’t carried out the murder.  Jacky beats up the boss and throws him out telling him that he’s through with crime and also noting that his new name is now John.

 

The Changing of the guard

An elderly professor learns that he will soon be forced to retire.  Looking back on his career he believes that his time has been wasted and that he has not made any impact.  He considers committing suicide.  As he does, the phantoms of some of his past students emerge.  They relate what they did in life and how he was the inspiration for their lives.  In the end the professor realizes that he did make a difference in people’s lives and decides to accept his retirement.

 

 

These are some of my favorite episodes.  I find myself turning back to these over and over again when life gets tough, when things aren’t going my way, or when I find myself at a loss as to what direction to take.  The past should stay in the past, a life can be redeemed, and we are the sum of our experiences, all of them.

Lessons aren’t confined to books.  Wisdom may be found in the oddest of places and we should never discount knowledge no matter where it comes.  Even if that places happens to be in The Twilight Zone.

Posted in: life in general, review, television, thought

MUDs

April 4, 2015 6:43 AM , Leave a Comment ,

[Author’s note:  This is a reprint of a popular internet post from the 1990’s.  The Author is anonymous and most probably lost to history.  It involves game play in a MUD (multi user dungeon).  MUDs allowed you to play against other people on the then primitive internet.  Back before the web you could play online games but you had to use your imagination.  All gameplay was text-based.  This is where I got my first taste of playing online against other computer users.  This is what a trip to Denny’s might look like if it happened in a MUD]

 

LOADING, PLEASE WAIT…
You have entered Denny’s.
You say, ‘Hail Denny’s hostess’
Denny’s hostess says ‘Hello, Tom. Welcome to Denny’s. [Smoking] or [non-smoking]?’
You say, ‘non-smoking’
You say, ‘I would like non-smoking please’
You say, ‘what about non-smoking’
Denny’s hostess says ‘Right this way, please.’
You are out of food and drink.
Corey shouts, ‘has anyone seen the waiter?’
Gary shouts, ‘no and ive been camping him for a half hour’
You are out of food and drink.
Ester shouts, ‘I see him’
Corey shouts, ‘dont kill him, i still have to do the order quest’
You are hungry.
You are thirsty.
You are out of food and drink.
You say, ‘Hail Denny’s waiter’
Denny’s waiter says ‘Hello, Tom. You look like you could use some [coffee]’
You say, ‘Yes I’ll have some coffee’
You say, ‘what about coffee’
Denny’s waiter says ‘Ah, excellent! We have [regular] and [decaf].’
You say, ‘I will have some decaf’
You say, ‘what about decaf’
You say, ‘what about decaffeinated coffee’
Denny’s waiter says ‘I expected nothing less of you. Here, take this.’
You gain experience!
Your faction standing with Juan Valdez got better
You drink your coffee.
You were hit by non-melee for 39 dmg
YOU are burning!
You shout, ‘Ow hehe this coffee’s hot’
Karen shouts, ‘Haha u sux0r’
You are hungry.
You are out of food.
Annoying kid says ‘Pikachuuuuuu’
Annoying kid tries to hit YOU, but misses!
Annoying kid tries to hit YOU, but misses!
Annoying kid hits YOU for 3 points of damage.
Auto-attack on.
You hit Annoying kid for 17 points of damage.
You hit Annoying kid for 22 points of damage.
You have slain Annoying kid!
Your faction standing with Disciplineless Mothers got worse
Your faction standing with Denny’s Customers got better
Your faction standing with The World at Large got better
Annoying kid’s corpse0 says ‘My mother will avenge my death!’
You receive 3 copper as your split.
You are hungry.
You are out of food.
Disciplineless mother says ‘Your actions and history are a personal affront to all I stand for.’
Disciplineless mother begins casting a spell.
Disciplineless mother pet is enveloped in flames.
Off-duty police officer says ‘Hey! No pets in the building!’
Disciplineless mother pet hits YOU for 18 points of damage.
Off-duty police officer hits Disciplineless mother for 287 points of damage.
Off-duty police officer hits Disciplineless mother for 234 points of damage.
Off-duty police officer kicks Disciplineless mother for 27 points of damage.
Disciplineless mother is slain by Off-duty police officer!
Disciplineless mother pet hits YOU for 12 points of damage.
Off-duty police officer hits Disciplineless mother pet for 262 points of damage.
Off-duty police officer was burned.
Disciplineless mother pet is slain by Off-duty police officer!
Off-duty police officer says ‘Let this be a lesson, that none can withstand the wrath of the San Diego Department of Public Safety.’
You are hungry.
You are out of food.
You say, ‘Hail Denny’s waiter’
Denny’s waiter says ‘Can I get you some more [coffee]?’
You say, ‘No, I want to place my order’
You say, ‘Can I place my order?’
You say, ‘Let me place my order ******!’
Denny’s waiter says ‘Ah, would you like to try our [Grand Slam Breakfast]?’
You say, ‘I will have the grand slam breakfast’
Denny’s waiter says ‘How would you like your [eggs]?’
You say, ‘scrambled’
You say, ‘I would like them scrambled’
You say, ‘what about eggs’
Denny’s waiter says ‘You can have [scrambled eggs] or [fried eggs].’
You say, ‘I will have scrambled eggs’
Denny’s waiter says ‘Excellent, would you like anything to drink? Some [orange juice], perhaps?’
You say, ‘I will have orange juice’
You say, ‘what about orange juice’
Denny’s waiter says ‘Our orange juice is fresh squeezed from concentrate.’
You say, ‘give me orange juice’
Denny’s waiter says ‘Okay, I’ll be right back with your orange juice.’
You gain experience!
You are hungry.
You are out of food.
Gordon shouts, ‘Attention, your bacon is now raw, because fully-cooked bacon lacks the inherent risks associated with our Vision of Bacon.’
Lawrence shouts, ‘Wait a minute, this bacon hasn’t been cooked for months’
Gordon shouts, ‘Uhh… yes it has.’
Robert shouts, ‘You kidding? We’ve been complaining about this stuff being raw for ages’
Gordon shouts, ‘Uh, whatever.’
Gordon shouts, ‘Oh.’
Gordon shouts, ‘uh…. I’ve just been informed that the bacon has been raw for several months now, but we were unable to determine this until we fixed a bug with the pancakes, which were previously large enough to obscure the bacon.’
Gordon shouts, ‘… Oh, yeah, we nerfed your pancakes too.’
Denny’s waiter says ‘Here is your breakfast, Tom.’
You gain experience!
Your faction standing with Denny’s Customers got worse
Scrambled eggs looks at you threateningly – what would you like your tombstone to say?
You taste your eggs.
You are chilled to the bone.
You shout, ‘oh man my eggs are cold’
Robert shouts, ‘petition a manager then’
You petition, ‘my scrambled eggs are cold’
Kevin shouts, ‘Ack train to restroom!!!’
Thom says, ‘Lynn, I still can’t believe you can eat this stuff’
Denny’s waiter says ‘Here is your breakfast, Lynn.’
Lynn begins to cast a spell.
Lynn is protected from poison.
Lynn says, ‘I always come prepared’
You shout, ‘Man, where’s the manager’
Karen shouts, ‘Haha u pteitond a managr u sux0r’
George tells you, ‘Greetings, Tom, I am George, the Denny’s manager. How can I assist you?’
You tell George, ‘my scrambled eggs are cold’
George tells you, ‘I will be with you as soon as possible, please stay patient’
You sip your coffee.
A cool breeze slips through your mind.
George says, ‘Greetings, Tom. Are your eggs still cold?’
You say, ‘yes’
George begins to cast a spell.
Scrambled eggs burst into flame.
George says, ‘Take care’
Michelle says, ‘Ack, I don’t feel so well’
Michelle begins to cast a spell.
Alka-Seltzer staggers.
Michelle staggers.
Michelle beams a smile at Alka-Seltzer.
Michelle says, ‘Ahhh, I feel much better now…’
Denny’s waiter says ‘Here, let me clear that away for you.’
You say, ‘Hey, wait, that’s my food, I’m not done yet….’
You shout, ‘Hey, this waiter took my food’
Corey shouts, ‘Yep, they do that sometimes if you let your food sit there’
You say, ‘Hail Denny’s waiter’
Denny’s waiter says ‘Hello there, Tom, how can I help you?’
You say, ‘Check please’
Denny’s waiter says ‘Okay, here you go.’
You gain experience!
You say, ‘Hail Denny’s cashier’
Denny’s cashier says ‘Hello there, would you like to pay your [check]?’
You say, ‘Yes I want to pay my check’
You say, ‘what about my check’
Denny’s cashier says ‘You must give me the check before I can reveal more to you.’
Denny’s cashier says ‘Ah, excellent! Would you like to know your [total]?’
You gain experience!
Your faction standing with Denny’s Cashiers got better
You say, ‘what is my total’
Denny’s cashier says ‘Your total is 6 gold, 7 silver, 9 copper. Will you be paying with a [MasterCard]?’
You say, ‘yes I will use a mastercard’
Denny’s cashier says ‘Unfortunately your MasterCard is over-limit. Would you prefer to pay with [cash]?’
Your faction standing with MasterCard got worse
Your faction standing with Cheesy-*** High-Interest-Rate Credit Card Companies got better
You say, ‘yes I will pay with cash’
Denny’s cashier says ‘Your total is 6 gold, 7 silver, 9 copper then.’
You gain experience!
You receive 2 silver.
You receive 1 copper.
Denny’s waiter says ‘You have stiffed me on my tip for the last time!’
Denny’s waiter crushes YOU for 217 points of damage!
Denny’s waiter crushes YOU for 204 points of damage!
Denny’s waiter hits YOU for 226 points of damage!
Denny’s waiter tries to hit YOU, but misses!
Denny’s waiter bashes YOU for 74 points of damage!
You are stunned.
Denny’s waiter crushes YOU for 189 points of damage!
You are bleeding to death!
Denny’s waiter crushes YOU for 221 points of damage!
You have been slain by Denny’s waiter!
You are no longer stunned.
LOADING, PLEASE WAIT…
You have entered Verant.
You shout, ‘Can I get a SOW? My corpse is all the way over in Denny’s’
Karen shouts, ‘Haha u sux0r’

Posted in: activities, computers, games, internet

decisions

April 2, 2015 6:20 AM , Leave a Comment ,

Cars aren’t a total necessity in Houston.

I run past several bus stops every morning and I see fair-sized crowds waiting for the bus that will take them to their jobs.  Houston has recently begun to slowly embrace bike lanes and cycling culture and from time to time they close off some streets near downtown and hold walking days on main streets.

So no, not a total necessity, except that they are.  Anyone outside the Loop (loop-610) knows the yawning distances that have to be covered to get anything done.  We’re not one of those compact European or even east coast cities that have to make do with whatever flat space they can get.

We’re spoiled with flat spaces and we’ve put them to good use.  So cars are for the most part necessary.

So I’ve taken care of mine for the past 9 years and I’ve loved my Charger.  We’ve shared many a long road trip, many hours commuting to the office, and just the every day grind of life.

But the fact remains that it has been 9 years already.  9 years and over 125000 miles.  I just realized this the other day when talking to one of my friends that I first met just before getting my car.  We were reminiscing and she brought up the fact that we’d known each other nearly a decade.  I thought to myself “that can’t be right”.  Then I remembered about my car and suddenly I realized how old my car was.

So now my mind begins to ask some questions.

What’s the mechanical state of my car?  Fairly good for a 9-year-old car.  The suspension isn’t happy about all the potholes in Houston’s streets and the upholstery has taken a beating, but otherwise in good state

What’s the resale value?  Not that great.  Somewhere in the 5 grand range and probably not going up.

Can I actually afford a new car?  yes and no.  I could buy one outright but I would rather not right now.

What if I keep the car another year or two?  Probably likely to have a breakdown or two.  I know I said the mechanical state is good but these things happen and when they do, most likely it will cost a bit to get fixed.

So do I wait or do I start looking for something new?

Posted in: Automobiles, decisions, driving

aftermath

March 31, 2015 6:23 AM , Leave a Comment ,

Recently someone who I am very fond of was the victim of a crime.  Physically she’s fine and I think emotionally she’s fine too.  She’s remarkably strong.  But even the most resilient of us can be somewhat marred by such an experience.

I’ve been mugged a couple of times, I’ve known other people who have had their homes or offices burglarized, I’ve known victims of domestic abuse.  Crimes such as these tend to leave a type of blemish or scar on the soul that is sometimes hard to see or make out.

Even the most “benign” or transitory of crimes can be a jarring experience for the victim.  I think part of the reason is the wanton violation of one’s personal space.  The thought that someone can come in at will and impose themselves on you that way would be unsettling to anyone.

What you thought of as “safe” places suddenly need to be re-evaluated.  Someone I know had their office burglarized and he came to the office after it happened and slept in the office with a loaded gun.  His space had been violated and he felt he had to re-establish it as his own.

The other thing is that these type of crimes make you feel jumpy about strangers.  You no longer look at strangers with the same kind of trust and open mind like you once did.

The damage, though it may not show, is real.  You want to help.  But you really shouldn’t.

Not at first anyways.  Something like this has to be dealt with by the person, first and foremost.  They have a lot to sort out and a lot to work through.  Most people do it on their own and at their own pace.

We as friends and family need only stand by if needed.  Just let them know that you’re available and let things work themselves out.  Frustrating sometimes but the best way to handle the situation.

Sometimes though if the person affected doesn’t seem to be healing or moving forward it may be necessary to step in but usually it’s best done with the help of a trained professional.

It may not seem as if you’re doing anything by just standing by, but believe me, you are.  If you are in some way needed, the person will let you know what they need from you so don’t worry about it.

Posted in: friends, life in general, relationships, security

The mythos of science

March 29, 2015 6:26 AM , Leave a Comment ,

We were having a discussion on Facebook the other day.  The discussion centered on a news article about how complicated the new view that western medicine now had concerning cholesterol.

The new view is that the science is not just a little but very inconclusive about cholesterol’s role in heart disease.  I’ve discussed previously how science has changed its position on sodium in a previous post.  Now here is another science “fact” that is seemingly disappearing right before our eyes.

The science doesn’t annoy me all that much.  Science is a search for knowledge using experimentation and hypotheses.  Science can and often does change all the time as new facts are uncovered and old theories have to be brushed up or even overturned with new evidence.

What annoys me however is what non-scientists do with science.

We’ve taken to making public policy using science as a reason for making drastic changes in lifestyles, in the way our economy works, in the way that we perceive the world.  Changes that are not always so benign.  We make these changes based on ideas that we only half understand or that we totally don’t understand and we do so with the assurance that what we’re doing is correct.

I find that troubling to say the least.  Not just for the fact that sometimes these ideas are wrong but also that we tend to imbue these ideas with an almost godlike certitude.  Science says that this idea is correct, therefore we will pass this law based on that and any who doubt this law, doubt science and are therefore wrong.

Of course if later on the science turns out to be wrong there is no recantation, no mea culpa.  In fact sometimes government will tenaciously hang on to outdated ideas even though now the science says it’s wrong.

I wish we could let science take its time and do the science properly rather than prodding it for results and jumping on the least little rumor and declaring it fact.

So far the consequences haven’t been too bad but I fear someday we will make public policy on a wrong assumption and we will pay dearly for it.

Posted in: myths, science

relax

March 27, 2015 6:08 AM , Leave a Comment ,

I’ve been running full tilt this year.  Been keeping busy as much as possible and trying to get things done and trying out as many new activities as I can in my spare time.

I’ve been programming my spare time, mainly the weekends, for the last few months and I’ve been able to see and do a lot of cool and fun stuff these few months.

But inevitably you are going to get a weekend that you’re not going to have anything to do.  Now to clarify, I always have some chore or some thing to accomplish but I generally have more spare time on the weekends, generally in the evenings, to do something and I’ve been putting that to good use.

Like I said however, you’re going to roll into one of those weekends where either nothing appeals to you particularly, or the timing doesn’t work out, or you just don’t feel like doing anything in particular.

Unprogrammed time.  It happens.  In a way it’s a good thing.  Just a chance to let things settle down and let your mind relax.  We all need that sort of weekend from time to time.  At first I was a bit anxious about it as I thought to myself “come on, I have to have some “thing” to do”

But really this is just one weekend out of hundreds.  Maybe this will give me a chance to reflect, to take turn off the smart phone and just think, or at the very least just hit the reset button on my mind and start fresh on Monday morning.

Putting pressure on myself to have something to do is good in most cases but becoming fixated on that notion is not.  Using this time to really relax is a gift I should embrace.

 

Posted in: attitude, habits, hobbies, life in general, plans, rest, thought

the right sales pitch

March 25, 2015 6:33 AM , Leave a Comment ,

Whether you work in retail level sales or make multi-million dollar pitches you have one thing in common with every door to door salesman, car stereo salesman, used car salesman, real estate agent, or girl scout peddling cookies door to door; you have to convince someone else to buy something from you.

Somehow and in someway you have to convince another person to spend some of their hard-earned capital and invest in your product or service or, if you think about it in you.

One of the challenges of modern sales is crafting a pitch that will be appropriate to your audience.  In the past I figured a one size fits all approach would work best.  My approach would be to write or present as much technical information about the product or service as I could remember.  To essentially cover my bases and give them all they could ever want to know and hopefully the product or service would sell itself.

This did not turn out to be the best approach.  I mean think about it.  Who wants to hear all the dull technical minutiae?  That’s right!  Technical guys.  The ones paid to know all the nuts and bolts of the operation.  They not only wouldn’t mind hearing this stuff, they would insist upon it.  They are the ones that will talk your ears off about all the little details.

Middle managers and creative types on the other hand don’t really want to get all of that.  They want to know that the “thing” will work for them.  Oh sure, they will have some questions or they may bring in some experts with their own questions but their main focus is accomplishing their goals.

Then of course you have the boss level event.  The CEO, or the President, or whatever that person’s title is. This individual’s time is at a premium.  They definitely don’t have the time for the full dog and pony act and they don’t haggle about pricing.

Your presentation has to be short and to the point.  You also have to discuss the appropriate topic.  Talk about the challenges to their business, about possible opportunities for both firms to work together, make an abstract of how cooperation between both business could be beneficial.

Every once in a while you do get the boss that wants to know those technical details or wants to talk shop so be ready for that but most of the time those bosses are late to their next meeting and can’t spare the time.  They will most likely turn you over to someone else in the company if they’re interested.

If you think about it, every sales person out there will run into one of these type of clients in their working life.  Being prepared with the appropriate response level will help get you to close deals more often and even if you don’t close today, that potential customer will have a much more favorable impression of your sales abilities and will remember that in the future.

Posted in: business, life in general, sales

A ripe old age

March 23, 2015 6:23 AM , Leave a Comment ,

A few months back one of my friends that regularly eschews all health related advice was discussing longevity.  Someone pointed out that some simple lifestyle choices may help him live a longer life.  He retorted “maybe it wasn’t that he would live longer but rather that it would seem longer.”  Meaning of course that he would have to get rid of all the enjoyable parts of life and live a pretty dismal existence just to get in a few more years of life.

The reason I thought about this conversation was that I saw a couple of news articles the other day.  One was about a 100-year-old woman who celebrated her birthday by skydiving and the other article was about a 104 year old that drank 3 soft drinks a day.

How is it that some people can live seemingly reckless lives and still feel vital in their later years while others practice control and are careful and may be lucky to reach 70?

Certainly genetics plays a large role in this.  Research has shown that some people are not only genetically predisposed to live longer but also may be predisposed to sidestepping certain congenital diseases such as cancers or heart disease.

Lifestyle will of course count somewhat in how you fare in your later years.  No matter how lucky you are in the genetic lottery mistreating your body is still a terrible idea and mistreating your body to the point that you cause it severe damage is just a bad overall strategy that may mean that you will not be able to enjoy all the benefits of your body into your later years.

But I suppose the main crux of my friend’s argument is that making sacrifices for the long haul just isn’t so appealing if in the long run you have nothing to look forward to but a bland existence.  In that I think he misses the point.

Just because you don’t go out and party every night when you’re young doesn’t have to mean that you are doomed to a spartan existence for the rest of your life. Rather, living a more regulated and moderated lifestyle gives you chances to do more down the years.

I feel lucky that I have survived my younger and wilder years fairly unscathed and that I am now more serious about my health.  I look forward to many years of exploiting my continuing health to try out more experiences, do new things, and savor what the future may bring.

Sure I get frustrated when someone on social media posts about a new restaurant or when someone tells me about a hot new bar or whatever place that they went to.  I would love to do more of these things.  But then again I also hear about their hangovers and having to go to the doctor for stomach problems or having to refill prescriptions that I have thus far avoided.  They won’t get to look forward to some of the things that I will get to enjoy later in life.

As long as I can keep my moderated lifestyle going I think that over time I will be the one that enjoys life more.

Posted in: aging, diet, exercise, genetics, health, life in general