Have you ever read this really sweet children’s novel called ‘Tuck Everlasting’? I think they turned it into a movie in the 80s, I haven’t bothered to see it though. Your post reminded me of it.
For those of you who haven’t read it, basically the story is centered around this immortal family and it describes the burden of what it means to have an indefinite life and how it can change one’s perspective of death. In the book the main character is given the option to become immortal and it tells of the thoughts that go into deciding something as permanent and significant as immortality. They family describes it as both a curse and a blessing, which it really is. There are pros and cons to something like that, but in my case I would have to agree that immortality would not be worth the drawbacks. I’d like to get off this place ASAP in fact. You should really check the book out, it’s a quick read, but it gets you thinking.
For me, death is my cushion so that if I were ever to fall it’s something soft I can land on to not feel the pain of hitting the ground. Death means losing everything known to you in exchange for the absolute unknown, which I believe to be a void of eternal nothingness. Death is my escape if life were to become too unbearable, it would save me from the pains of existing. I suppose I romanticize death to a large extent and that I prefer the idea of it, which is much different than what it actually is. The idea of death is both fascinating and horrific. I’ve known people who have died and I still can’t wrap my head around the fact that they’re gone forever. They’re in the ground and they’re not coming back.
Living forever would also open up a significant amount of other opportunities. Because death is no longer a threat you have the freedom to do things that you would otherwise be unable to do. If you cannot die, what’s the harm in taking risks? All potential losses that a person might feel from losing a gamble can stem back to death in some form, if you really think about it. I’m sure for some, they would like nothing more than to be immortal. I wish there were a way to make some people immortal, there are so many inherently good people whom genuinely enjoy life and do their best to assist and help others while also taking their own needs into account which is vital to living a happy life. There really are some wonderful, selfless people out there whose existences truly do make the world a better place.
Of course myself, I would give anything to NOT live forever. Life is a curse to me and to have it become perpetual would be my worst nightmare, I don’t even want to imagine that kind of circumstance. Death is one of the few things that I’m glad is permanent.
If I had been cursed to live forever I’d find a way to die somehow. I can’t imagine living century after century watching everyone you ever knew die and you remain. You would be alive from generation to generation watching your childrens children children die……that not something I’d want to be alive to witness……I’d study to be an astronaut go into space and remove my helmet …..immortality or not I think that would kill me….
5 comments
I’d rather kill myself.
Have you ever read this really sweet children’s novel called ‘Tuck Everlasting’? I think they turned it into a movie in the 80s, I haven’t bothered to see it though. Your post reminded me of it.
I’ve read Tuck Everlasting, thought it was good. There is a movie adaption that came out in 2002 that I thought was very good.
For those of you who haven’t read it, basically the story is centered around this immortal family and it describes the burden of what it means to have an indefinite life and how it can change one’s perspective of death. In the book the main character is given the option to become immortal and it tells of the thoughts that go into deciding something as permanent and significant as immortality. They family describes it as both a curse and a blessing, which it really is. There are pros and cons to something like that, but in my case I would have to agree that immortality would not be worth the drawbacks. I’d like to get off this place ASAP in fact. You should really check the book out, it’s a quick read, but it gets you thinking.
For me, death is my cushion so that if I were ever to fall it’s something soft I can land on to not feel the pain of hitting the ground. Death means losing everything known to you in exchange for the absolute unknown, which I believe to be a void of eternal nothingness. Death is my escape if life were to become too unbearable, it would save me from the pains of existing. I suppose I romanticize death to a large extent and that I prefer the idea of it, which is much different than what it actually is. The idea of death is both fascinating and horrific. I’ve known people who have died and I still can’t wrap my head around the fact that they’re gone forever. They’re in the ground and they’re not coming back.
Living forever would also open up a significant amount of other opportunities. Because death is no longer a threat you have the freedom to do things that you would otherwise be unable to do. If you cannot die, what’s the harm in taking risks? All potential losses that a person might feel from losing a gamble can stem back to death in some form, if you really think about it. I’m sure for some, they would like nothing more than to be immortal. I wish there were a way to make some people immortal, there are so many inherently good people whom genuinely enjoy life and do their best to assist and help others while also taking their own needs into account which is vital to living a happy life. There really are some wonderful, selfless people out there whose existences truly do make the world a better place.
Of course myself, I would give anything to NOT live forever. Life is a curse to me and to have it become perpetual would be my worst nightmare, I don’t even want to imagine that kind of circumstance. Death is one of the few things that I’m glad is permanent.
If I had been cursed to live forever I’d find a way to die somehow. I can’t imagine living century after century watching everyone you ever knew die and you remain. You would be alive from generation to generation watching your childrens children children die……that not something I’d want to be alive to witness……I’d study to be an astronaut go into space and remove my helmet …..immortality or not I think that would kill me….