The quest for the key to immortality takes different forms in every century, but the common element is that it鈥檚 said to be always 鈥渏ust around the corner.鈥�
Last year, biomedical gerontologist Aubrey de Grey opened up this topic in a headline grabbing statement,听听As chief scientist of a foundation dedicated to longevity research, De Grey reckons that within his own lifetime doctors could have all the tools they need to 鈥渃ure鈥� aging 鈥� as if it is a disease in itself, banishing the diseases that come with it and extending life indefinitely. He feels that all we will need to do to keep in good shape is to visit a doctor for a tune up 鈥� rather like our cars, I thought 鈥� that would include gene therapies, stem cell therapies, immune stimulation and a range of other advanced medical techniques.
However, these theories are contested. In an article in the听UK Daily Mail听titled 鈥溙齣nternationally respected scientist David Concar disagrees with such claims. He set out to examine the data behind the numerous claims to immortality and life extension, including theories about the usefulness of diets, pills and potions.听 He sees these ideas as half-truths, leading us to believe that age is an enemy that can be defeated.
And the public too is not necessarily on board with the idea of eternal life.听, which recently polled Americans as to whether they want to live longer, discovered that many respondents do not view increased longevity as a benefit, either personally or for the country as a whole.
This does not mean, though, that we have to sit helplessly by while age creeps up on us like a rising tide.
In the 19th听century an American Christian healer and health researcher,听, was thinking about these questions of longevity when she wrote,听鈥淓ach succeeding year unfolds wisdom, beauty, and holiness.鈥�
Her perceptive statement set my thoughts to considering individuals who focus on the quality and purpose of their life rather than on the number of years lived. One such individual was renowned sculptress,听.
鈥淭he world needs beauty. People hunger for it, and I intend to give it to them,鈥� she once told me. Though little known outside of England, this prolific artist and dear friend, continued throughout her life to learn new techniques and to increase her skills with this purpose of bringing beauty to the world.听 She inspired me to consider 鈥渁ge鈥� differently.
Josefina once remarked to me that the eighth decade of her life was her most productive. At that time she was working with new techniques and materials to produce more meaning and beauty in her art. I was a 20-something young woman, and it was inspiring to have this woman three times my age, not only tell me that she improved with age, but also watch her embrace every new lesson with enthusiasm. She proved what she shared with me, when, in the ninth decade of her life, Sir Richard Branson commissioned her to oversee three new re-castings of her large statue,听first created after World War II.听After the re-castings, these statues now stand in several cities in Europe, including England, and in Hiroshima, Japan.听 When she was approaching her 100th听birthday, Josefina took up a new skill 鈥� the guitar 鈥� to keep her fingers nimble, she said.
Closer to home and more recently, another British woman challenged theories about age. 70-year old听听departed from the Strait of Juan de Fuca on a cool October day in 2012 for her third attempt to become the world鈥檚 oldest woman to sail solo, non-stop, around the world. And she achieved that goal, sailing into Victoria Harbour on July 8, 2013. Asked what was her most difficult moment of the trip, she said it was when she had to climb the mast to repair some equipment. During her voyage she stayed in contact with friends and family through modern technology. But her most beautiful moments, she said, were 鈥渂eing out in the open ocean alone, with just the albatrosses and shearwaters keeping me company.鈥�
And she urged us all, when considering a new adventure, to 鈥淛ust go for it, do it. Don't let your age stop you.鈥�
These women, with their eternal sense of exploration and sense of purpose, are models to consider in overcoming the limitations we are frequently presented with regarding the age process. They are recasting age. Rather than counting the number of years lived, they consider the importance of the meaning, quality and beauty of each day.
We may not all be great artists or fearless sailors, but each day we can decide that advancing years are not a forecast of a debilitating existence. Rather, they present us with the opportunity to discover and share our learning and wisdom with others, and to entertain a more spiritual, beautiful view of life 鈥� one thought at a time.
Anna Bowness-Park听is a Christian Science practitioner and听a blogger, writing frequently on the relationship between spirituality and health. You can read her blog at听听
