I’m not the type of person who creates annual goals. I don’t have a 10 year plan, or even a 5 year plan. How could I possibly have one when I’m still waiting for my vision?
But Mr. HalfFull has a 100 year plan. He wants to live to age 100, and be featured on a Smucker’s jar.
That seems like a ridiculously long life to me. I have no desire to live to 100. I can’t imagine having much quality of life at that age.
Regardless of how many years Mr. HalfFull and I get under our belts, I want to be the first to go. I constantly remind him of our pact to let me die first. But this is the most unlikely of all scenarios. First of all, women generally live longer than men. Secondly, he’s already 10 years older than me. Finally, if you add in family health history, the odds are stacked against Mr. HalfFull.
So those three factors of female longevity, age, and family history are immutable. But there are things we can change, namely how we live our lives today. Yet, it seems I’m screwing that up too!
Last week, I told you about how I’m getting lots of exercise and sleep. On the other hand, Mr. HalfFull wakes up early, works long hours, goes to bed late, and doesn’t have a regular exercise routine. This formula doesn’t seem to be working out right at all.
Back before we were an old married couple, we used to dress up for Halloween. In 2008, we went as Fiona & Shrek.
Last week was Halloween. We never get trick-or-treaters, so I stopped buying Halloween candy years ago in an effort to save me from eating it all. So I had absolutely no candy on Halloween, which felt strange. Instead, I inadvertently exercised for 3 hours. (My days were all confused after fitness classes were cancelled for 2 days during Hurricane Sandy.)
What did Mr. HalfFull do on Halloween? As a high school teacher, he was surrounded by kids and candy. He consumed sugar all day long! After the kids went home, he sat in his office writing a grad school paper and then headed directly to class. He returned home after 10 PM. Does this sound like the relaxed, healthful life of a man about to live to 100?
I’m eating well and exercising, while Mr. HalfFull is working long hours and barely has time to sleep. I don’t think my plan is going to work out at all! Perhaps I need some more risky behaviors to tip the scales back in my favor.
Yes, I agree that riding in the fog is probably not the safest.
My parents would argue that riding a motorcycle is far too dangerous. But I generally ride with Mr. HalfFull and we are both brightly colored, me in red and him in Buddha orange. Of course, anything can happen at any time, but I think we try to be especially safety conscious on our motorcycles.
Maybe I need to take up smoking. Or perhaps I could become a potato chip aficionado. Plus, I could start daily training for pie and hot dog eating contests! (Too bad I don’t like hot dogs.)
I guess need to reassess my new healthful life…
- How many years do you want to live?
- How much Halloween candy did you consume?
- What life shortening habits should I take up?
#1 by Sarah Park on November 8, 2012 - 10:59 AM
Quote
Who inadvertently exercises for three hours?! You are amazing. I would never just accidentally exercise for *any* length of time.
I haven’t thought much about how many years I want to live. I’ve more along the lines of… I want to die peacefully, not have a prolonged era of illness, not be a burden on our kids. And yeah, dying before my husband or at the same time as him would be better than the alternative. I know someone who, when his elderly father died unexpectedly, said that we can’t know the future ahead of time because we couldn’t bear it. That is inexpressibly sad to me… and yet I suppose what he was saying was that since we don’t know it, when we *do* have to face it, we somehow get through, just by taking one step at a time.
I haven’t had any Halloween candy! Too much risk of gluten hiding in there. Plus Charlie is making enough of a dent in the kids’ bags that they’re noticing and feeling indignant.
I don’t want you to take up ANY life shortening habits! You need to somehow get Mr. HalfFull on the healthy life habits team, that’s all.
#2 by Ms. HalfEmpty on November 8, 2012 - 3:08 PM
Quote
I taught one of those 3 exercise hours. Then because of Hurricane Sandy, I forgot that it was the day I usually take an evening class. So I ended up staying for another class after teaching. Then I still went to my evening class because it’s my favorite one of the week.
I agree with you on wanting to die peacefully. But there are so many life prolonging measures used in this country that it seems like old age doesn’t have much quality anymore.
Since Charlie did dress up, perhaps he deserves some of that Halloween candy!
#3 by Mr. HalfFull on November 8, 2012 - 2:22 PM
Quote
It’s always been interesting to me that the portion of my personality that enables me not to worry too much about things, thus reducing stress and improving my chances of longevity, is paradoxically the same part of my personality that enables me not to worry about the caloric content of a “medicinal” milkshake! Your blog got me wondering how to get on that Smucker’s jar label 58 years from now. Hmm…maybe I should take Ms. Park’s advice and get on that healthy life habits team. Step one: quit full-time employment to fully commit myself to achieving optimal levels of sleep, nutrition, and exercise. Step two: LIVE FOREVER!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2poqYvWsyU
Maybe you’re the same as me
We see things they’ll never see
You and I are gonna live forever
#4 by Ms. HalfEmpty on November 8, 2012 - 3:16 PM
Quote
Sometimes you have an irritating lack of stress. =) I think there is a certain amount of stress that can motivate us in positive ways.
I don’t think your healthy life plan is going to work out for us. Someone has to work! Maybe you can work on optimal levels of sleep, nutrition and exercise over the summer.
I love that Oasis song. But can we just live as long as we are healthy and happy, rather than forever?