Megabytes

This question was posed by Patrick Mathieu at his blog: The Power of Mortality. I took a moment to answer.

I’ve been reading some of Steven Levine’s book, “A Year To Live, How To Live This Year As If It Were Your Last“. Actually, I’ve stopped reading it because it is so intense and I needed a break. But the premise and the promise of the book is a deep understanding of one’s own mortality – a good thing to have.
Before I began reading this book, I would flippantly answer the question, “how long do you want to live?” with the answer “til I’m 100 years old“.
That’s still my answer, but now that I am approaching 50 (in a little over a year), I know that more importantly, I want to live well today. Live in good health as much as possible. Live with happiness as a choice. Mostly, live consciously.
So, my answer to your question “what is a good age to die?” - when you are ready.
My wife’s aunt and mother joined us on a trip to the beach in late September. Aunt T. had a fall 5 days after returning to her home. And she turned 84 years old. She had some recovery from the fall, then later was hospitalized with complications. She exercised power over her own life and asked that extreme measures not be taken to prolong her life. She said in a clear voice to the doctors and her grown children, “I’m ready.”
Her children and grandchildren gathered in her hospital room for a going away party. Chinese take-out was ordered and some wine shared. Two days later she died peacefully, surrounded by family.
In her case 84 is a good age to die. She was ready.
I wish that I am able to have that kind of conscious choice about my death and that I will be ready at whatever age I die.