Considering Mortality

2024 has certainly been a trying year, not only was it the first "anniversary" of my Mum's passing, but it was a year in which we said farewell to two family members. On top of that there was one suicide attempt, my best friend hospitalised with Malaria, an Aunt facing Cancer and a scattering of health scares (2 of them my own). I'm in no doubt that 2025 will bring its share of trauma, and maybe that's why I've been pondering the time I have left.

I've done the maths and if you believe the World Health Organisation (did somebody say WHO?) I have around 17.3 years to live! The Office for National Statistics are more generous with their 23 year projection (or 20, seeing that I'm black). Either way, it's not a lot of time and I have to consider how I'm going to spend it. Of my 7300 days left I could pottentially spend 1560 of them working for the man (with the current retirement age set at 67 for men born after 1960).. 172 of them on crowded trains trying to get to and from said man.

But that's not the roadmap I plan to follow; I want to spend more than 14 years free from the plantation; no longer obliged to bite my tongue and toe the line in fear of being let go. I want to occupy more of my precious time with those I love, doing the things I enjoy. I want to visit the other places on my list before I lose the ability to appreciate them fully, or before the travel insurance premium exceeds the cost of the ticket.

Part of my scheme is to work no more than three days a week. I'm currently doing just that, thanks to cashing-in one of my pension plans. My outgoings are manageable, gone are the days of raving every weekend and the party invites have been replaced with funeral invites (but they're free to attend so every cloud..). I have no dependants, not even a cat, I have a partner but I'm dependant on him more than he of me. Probably my biggest challenge is maintaining my health, both physical and mental, without that it's game over.

But despite the above I remain positive, yes it saddens me to think there are things I'll probably never see in my lifetime (humans setting foot on Mars.. a cure for Cancer.. the next UK solar eclipse), but I'm stepping into the future with a greater sense of purpose.

To free myself from the burden of obligation.

Links:

Office for National Statistics

World Health Organisation

Complete list of unit 3 blog posts