I Only Have 10 Years Left To Live…
What am I going to do with it?
It’s a sobering thought knowing that you only have ten years left to live.
Believe me, I know … because that’s how much time I have left.
At least according to the averages.
The current life expectancy for people in the United States in 2024 is 79.25 years. And since I’m already 70.5 years old, that means my days are numbered.
But it’s worse than that.
The 79.25 is for both sexes. For men, it’s only 74.8.
And the hits just keep on coming…
Supposedly, you can subtract years from your expected lifespan based on your personal habits. Deduct a few years for smoking and drinking (which I don’t do), and then more for cancer survivors (which I am.) Although I’m cancer-free at the moment, how much of this ‘average lifespan’ has been stripped away because of the radiation treatments I endured is anyone’s guess. It’s been two-and-a-half years since I ended the treatments, and I’m still suffering the consequences of getting zapped. It has to have made a difference, right?
Now, I’m not saying all this to depress you. Quite the contrary. This essay is about how I’ve come to grips with the reality we all face — our own mortality — and why I’m…
