One thing I've noticed about my initial reactions to “longevity” was a sense of deep skepticism. I'd associated it with the world portrayed in shows like Silicon Valley, where people have 'blood boys' and act in a selfish and childish manner just for the sake of living forever. My view of longevity was also tinted by visions of dictators who'd wish to rule the world indefinitely. This left a sour taste in my mouth, making the idea of longevity rather unpalatable.
Moreover, I had recently consumed books that advocated for a peaceful acceptance of death. These books presented death acceptance as a mature thing to do, and I found myself aligning with that perspective.
But as I engaged more with individuals involved in longevity research at Zuzalu, my understanding evolved. I learned that the focus is more on extending life in a healthy, prosperous manner, enabling us to spend more time with our loved ones. The value proposition of longevity then started making sense to me.
As a result of this revelation, I'm proposing an additional catchphrase for the longevity community:
'Love Forever'
The act of living longer doesn't have to be selfish, desperate, or a denial of life's natural cycles. Instead, longevity can be about choosing to extend life because of our love for life, for the people, plants, and animals around us, and for the very essence of sentience. It's about relishing sentience for a longer time and helping others to do the same.
We all know that just being alive doesn't equate to truly living or flourishing. So here's my suggestion to the longevity community: let's encourage people to understand that longevity isn't just about living longer. It's about loving longer.
If people wish to extend their capacity for love, they should have the option to love forever.
Longevity is not just about living forever, but loving forever. Because ultimately, that's what life is about – love.