11 Years To Enjoy Your Life

Summary

The article discusses the reality of life's brevity and the importance of enjoying life despite the inevitability of death, particularly noting the average 11 years of retirement following a typical 50-year working life in the UK.

Abstract

Reflecting on the stark reality of mortality, the author shares a personal journey from childhood fears of death to a more positive outlook in adulthood. Despite past struggles that once led to counselling and hypnotherapy, the author now emphasizes the importance of living each day to its fullest, given the average life expectancy of 78 years in the UK and a retirement age of 67. The article encourages readers to find joy in daily life and focus on mental well-being, acknowledging that while the author does not possess the magic formula for a fulfilled life, they invite readers to share their positive insights and contribute to a collective sense of hope and purpose.

Opinions

The author admits to a lifelong fear of death that began in childhood and once manifested in intense emotional distress.
They question how they would respond if their children were to express similar fears about mortality.
The author suggests that many people turn to religion in later life, seeking comfort in the idea of an afterlife.
They challenge the notion of "you only live once" by countering with "you only die once, as we live every day," emphasizing the importance of daily living.
The author is struck by the statistic that, on average, individuals in the UK have only 11 years of retirement to enjoy after approximately 50 years of work.
Despite the fear of death lingering, the author expresses a commitment to cultivating positivity and focuses on the present, inviting readers to share their positive thoughts and comments.

A stark reality

The clock is ticking; I once heard a person say that "we are all born terminally ill"; it was a weird way to think of the inevitable; young at the time, I moved on from that comment, but recently it has appeared back in my thoughts.

I should start by saying that the only fear I have in life is the end of it; as a child of around 11–12, I had counselling and even hypnotherapy to try and get me through that fear.

It did work to a degree; back then, I could not talk about it; the thought drove me crazy, I would go insane, crying and wanting to take my life there and then, at least it would be over then, my mind could rest, I would have these thoughts no more.

I asked my mother to promise me that I would live forever and that she would never leave me; of course, it was a promise she could not make, and like all good mothers, she tried to comfort me and wipe my tears away.

What would I, or will I say if my children ask the same question of me?

I think many people in later life turn to "A God" in hope more than anything that their life as we know it will carry on in the afterlife; I may be wrong; these are simple man's thoughts.

Another quote I heard is that "you only live once" my response t that is ", you only die once, as we live every day," these days, I am a more positive person, a trait I try to work on every day.

Even though I can talk briefly about this awful subject, I still fear it; this led me to find an interesting fact that I hit home to me, which I wanted to share with the group.

11 Years To Enjoy Your Life

A stark reality

My Heart Breaks Every Day

I miss my parents

The average life expectancy in the UK is 78 years, whilst the retirement age is 67, so we work for around 50 years in the hope we can enjoy 11 years in retirement.

The Day I Nearly Died

It still terrifies me now

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