Rock-Stars-of-Aging-by-Marc-Middleton

Rocks Stars of Aging
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STATE OF MIND
11: Centenarians Are Fearless
“The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man who lives fully is
prepared to die at any time.” -- Mark Twain, author (November 30,
1835 – April 21, 1910)
Reaching 100 is apparently a very liberating experience. We’ve
asked many centenarians what they are most afraid of and the
answer is almost always the same: “nothing.”
We’ve specifically asked many centenarians if they are afraid of not
waking up in the morning because the odds that the end is near
increase every day. Without exception, they say nearly the same
thing. “I don’t want to go but I’m ready to go if it’s my time.”
As I’ll mention a little later, centenarians are innately curious and it
appears that includes even curiosity about death because many
centenarians have told us they are increasingly curious to know
what’s next.
Perhaps since they have already lived long and meaningful lives,
centenarians aren’t afraid of death, disease, poverty, the loss of loved
ones, being robbed, war in the Middle East, a massive earthquake or
an invasion of alien beings. Jeanne Calment, the oldest person to
ever live put it simply, “I'm not afraid of anything.”
“Death doesn't frighten me; now I can think peacefully of ending a
long life.” -- Jeanne Calment, 122, the longest living human (February
21,1875 – August 4,1997)
Rock Stars of Aging
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