Perhaps it is because I still think like a biologist. Or, perhaps it’s being an agnostic/atheist. But I still don’t get why people avoid the discussion of death. I guarantee you none of us is getting out of here alive. Most people avoid discussing death like they do bowel movements or masturbation. But unlike those, your death will be very public and completely unavoidable.

I used to think that one of the selling points for religious faith was that it made death more palatable. But now I think it mostly gives us permission to repress our fears of death. Dana Milbank’s article illustrates that if we can discuss death openly, we can make peace with it and, thereby, improve our lives and our legacy.

Article Summary:

In another great article, Dana Milbank tell us about a group of seven women aged 78-89 in Virginia’s Rappahannock County meet monthly as the “RONettes” to discuss death, end-of-life planning, and aging. What began as participation in a local “Ready or Not” program—helping seniors draft advance directives and organize their affairs—evolved into a close-knit support group that has continued meeting for three years.

During their gatherings over potlucks, these widowed or elderly women candidly discuss topics most avoid: green burials, body donation, do-not-resuscitate orders, and even property values with backyard graves. Rather than being morbid, members describe the experience as life-affirming and fear-reducing.

Research supports their approach: planning for death reduces psychological distress and improves well-being by prompting reflection on life’s meaning and legacy. The women have written their own obituaries, completed “Five Wishes” advance directives, and openly discuss medical decisions, downsizing, and cognitive decline.

Their remarkable honesty extends to personal struggles—one member is moving to assisted living due to cognitive impairment, another worries about unfinished research, and several keep deceased relatives’ ashes in their bedrooms. Most eschew cremation for environmental reasons, preferring green burials or body donation.

The group’s demystification of death has brought unexpected peace. Members report that confronting mortality directly has eliminated nightmares, reduced anxiety, and helped them focus on enjoying their remaining time. By creating a safe space to discuss the undiscussable, these women have transformed their final years into a period of meaningful companionship and purposeful living.

Article Excerpt:

“It may sound macabre, and terribly depressing. But the women, all but two of whom have been widowed, say it has been just the opposite for them: a life-affirming exercise that has given new meaning to their final chapters. It seems that by demystifying death, by refusing to deny that their lives are near the end, they have freed themselves from some of the fear of dying. Instead, they are able to focus on “how we enjoy these last few trips around the sun,” as one of them put it. And it’s no surprise that those final years are more enjoyable if filled with companionship — in this case, a group of peers with 600 years of combined life experience.”

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The post One Path to a Happier Life: Thinking More About Death first appeared on Sevenelles.

In this 2022 article, Arthur C. Brooks examines the trajectories of happiness across a person’s lifespan, drawing insights from the Harvard Study of Adult Development. Contrary to young people’s expectations, happiness typically declines during young adulthood and middle age, reaching its lowest point around age 50, before potentially rising again.

The study reveals two distinct groups among older individuals: the “happy-well” and the “sad-sick,” distinguished by their physical and mental health, and life satisfaction. While some factors influencing long-term happiness are beyond individual control, such as childhood experiences and genetic predispositions, seven key areas can be actively managed to improve future well-being.

These seven “Happiness 401(k)” investment areas are:

1. Avoiding smoking
2. Moderating alcohol consumption
3. Maintaining a healthy body weight
4. Prioritizing regular physical movement
5. Developing effective coping mechanisms
6. Pursuing continuous learning
7. Cultivating stable, long-term relationships

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The post The Seven Habits That Lead to Happiness in Old Age first appeared on Sevenelles.

The article explores Death Clock, an AI-powered smartphone app that predicts life expectancy using advanced statistical modeling and personal data. Unlike earlier, basic life expectancy calculators, this app asks 29 detailed questions about lifestyle, health habits, and personal history to generate a personalized death prediction.

The author tested the app and discovered his predicted death date is in 2042 at age 84, eleven years later than a previous web-based calculator’s estimate. The app not only provides a projected end date but also highlights potential causes of death and suggests lifestyle modifications that could extend life expectancy.

Death Clock’s key value lies in motivating users to make healthier choices by demonstrating how personal habits directly impact longevity. For instance, the author learned he could potentially add five years to his life by improving sleep, diet, and exercise habits.

Article Excerpt:

“When a friend mentioned that he’d used a new artificial-intelligence-powered smartphone app called Death Clock to learn when his ticker would give out, I wanted to know my end date as well. I had used a rudimentary web-based calculator nearly a decade ago, which said my time would be up in 2031 — now just six years away! I was hoping an app combining AI and statistical modeling to predict my personal life expectancy would buy me more time.”

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The post What Day Will You Die? This App Will Tell You first appeared on Sevenelles.

In this opinion piece, Daniel Pink explores the emerging trend of “living funerals” or “living celebrations,” focusing on the story of Richard Hanneman, who organized and attended his own funeral in August 2021 after being diagnosed with terminal lung cancer.

Hanneman planned two events: a casual farewell gathering and a more formal funeral ceremony. At both events, he was present, speaking to friends and family, reflecting on his life, and expressing gratitude. This approach represents a growing trend of personalizing end-of-life rituals, moving away from traditional, somber funeral practices.

The shift is attributed to several factors, including declining religious affiliations, increased cremation rates, and a desire for more individualized experiences. Experts like Kate Woodthorpe from the Centre for Death and Society suggest that living celebrations can provide social cohesion and allow the dying person to maintain control during their final days.

The article suggests that reimagining funeral practices can transform our relationship with death, turning it from a taboo subject into an opportunity for celebration and connection.

Article Excerpt:

Human beings have been constructing rituals around death for at least 100,000 years, according to archaeologists. Whether those customs involve intricate rites and elaborate offerings or simple words and somber clothing, they help us mark a moment and find meaning in pain. The rituals are often rooted in religion. Catholics hold wakes. Muslims perform the Salat al-Janazah. Jews sit shiva. Sometimes the deceased’s body is present. But almost by definition, the living person is not.

Yet in some corners of the world, that has been changing. “Living celebrations” (sometimes called “living funerals” or “pre-funerals”) began slowly wading into the mainstream in 1990s Japan, where the practice is known as seizenso. Versions have sprouted in South Korea as a way to help people reckon with their mortality and learn the principles of “dying well.”

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The post Why Not Attend Your Own Funeral? first appeared on Sevenelles.

In statehouses across the country, lawmakers this year will consider bills that, if widely adopted, could chart a new course for how Americans approach end-of-life decisions by giving terminally ill patients a legal means of choosing how and when they die.

Five states already have active legislation around physician-assisted suicide, with advocates expecting that number to reach nearly 20 after other statehouses resume sessions later this month. Bills in New York and Delaware fell short of passing last year, but sponsors and supporters are hopeful, if not confident, the renewed bills will become law in 2025. If passed, they would join 10 states and Washington that already allow a qualifying terminally ill patient to seek a lethal prescription from a doctor.

As Americans take a piecemeal approach to legalization, their global cousins in Canada and the United Kingdom are rapidly remaking their laws. Domestically, the moral and ethical tensions over the issue continue to divide faith, disability and medical communities more than three decades after Oregon became the first state to allow the practice.

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The post Should Doctors Help People Die? first appeared on Sevenelles.

Men who followed all five of the healthy sleep habits had a life expectancy that was 4.7 years greater than people who had none or only one of the five elements of low-risk sleep. The impact of healthy sleep habits was much lower for women: those who followed all five sleep habits gained 2.4 years compared with those who did none or only one.

One potential reason for the gender difference could be the difficulty of evaluating women for obstructive sleep apnea, a potentially deadly condition in which breathing stops every few minutes. The more severe the apnea, the greater the risk of coronary artery disease, heart attacks, heart failure, and strokes. “Women with obstructive sleep apnea often get underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed because they may not present with the classic symptoms that we see when we’re evaluating men,” said Dr. Raj Dasgupta, an associate professor of clinical medicine at the University of Southern California’s Keck School of Medicine.

The study suggests that encouraging the maintenance of regular sleep schedules with consistent sleep durations may be an important part of lifestyle recommendations for the prevention of heart disease. “Recent studies have shown irregularity in sleep timing and duration have been linked to metabolic abnormalities and higher cardiovascular disease risk,” said Dasgupta.

To achieve better sleep, individuals need to make sure they get a full seven to eight hours of sleep each night. They also need to have uninterrupted, restful sleep more often than not. That means not waking up during the night or having trouble falling asleep more than two times a week. People also need to feel well-rested at least five days a week when they wake up, and they can’t be using sleep medications to achieve their slumber. It’s important to go to bed at the same time on most nights and get up at the same time most mornings, even on weekends and holidays. Set up a sleep routine, with no blue lights or distractions at least an hour before bedtime. Parents and caregivers can learn these habits and teach them to their children, providing them with a better shot at a longer life, the study said.

“If people have all these ideal sleep behaviors, they are more likely to live longer,” said Dr. Frank Qian, a clinical fellow in medicine at Harvard Medical School and internal medicine resident physician at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. “If we can improve sleep overall, and identifying sleep disorders is especially important, we may be able to prevent some of this premature mortality,” Qian said.

To learn more on this topic, I recommend you start with this article from the American College of Cardiology.

The post Sleep Right and Add Almost 5 Years to Your Life first appeared on Sevenelles.

“Memento mori” is a Latin phrase that translates to “remember death.” It is a philosophy that reminds us to be mindful of our own mortality and to live in the present moment. The idea is that by remembering death, we will be more aware of the preciousness of life and will be motivated to live it to the fullest. The philosophy encourages people to focus on what is truly important in life, and to let go of worries and regrets about the past or fears about the future.

The concept of “memento mori” can be traced back to ancient civilizations, where it was often depicted in art and literature. In these works, the motif of a skull or a skeleton was used to remind people of death and the fleeting nature of life. The philosophy was also popular among medieval Christian monks, who would meditate on the idea of death to help them focus on living a virtuous life.

The philosophy of “memento mori” has been adopted and adapted by various cultures and traditions throughout history. Today, many people find inspiration in the idea of living in the present moment and making the most of the time they have. The reminder of death can serve as a powerful motivator for people to pursue their passions, to make meaningful connections with others, and to leave a positive impact on the world.

Interpretations of Momento Mori

The next concept is something that may be familiar to you but you may not know what it means. It’s called momento mori or sometimes referred to as death before birth. This comes from an ancient Japanese philosophy where life is very short and there are only so many times you can truly feel alive, so why waste time living a meaningless existence?

Most people in Western culture don’t really understand this philosophical idea at first, which is kind of the point. Momento mori takes some sort of understanding for being true.

It cannot be said with full certainty that we have lived meaningful lives until well into adulthood, especially if you look back over your lifetime. We all have things we remember about our childhoods, bits and pieces that stick with us, but nothing majorly significant happens till much later in life.

So, how do you define a meaningful life? Most would say having kids is one of the most important things you will do, because they believe their own lives were filled with meaning after they had children. Others might say teaching is a big part of that.

Examples of Momento Mori

A momento mori is any work or activity that de-emphasizes life and death, emphasizing instead something else.

A beautiful example of this can be seen in the Japanese art called plant portraits. In these paintings, still lifes are made out of plants and flowers. They use this concept to emphasize rebirth over death.

Another way they use it is to focus on nature and the flow of energy from stillness to movement. For instance, you could see waves flowing up the beach as everything slowly comes back together after a big break. Or how trees grow tall before dropping their leaves and branches in winter.

This link between death and renewal was very much part of ancient cultures. It has now been infused into our daily lives as a reminder to appreciate what we have while we have it. These concepts apply not just to nature but also to other areas of life.

YouTube: Memento Mori explained in 5 minutes

“Remember You Will Die” -Make the most of the time you have

A momento mori or ‘death-life’ time is when we are living our lives at a rapid speed, like speeding cars. You can look at this as us spending more and more of our time in life being focused on getting through each day instead of investing in things that will help you have longer, healthier days.

We spend most of our time chasing what we want next week or even next month, without thinking about how today feels. It may sound dramatic, but it’s a very true statement.

It is important to make sure you are giving your body the proper amount of sleep, nutrition, exercise, and rest. If you don’t, then you won’t be productive tomorrow!

You need to understand that you’re going to die one day, and having a good death is crucial to enjoying the other times you’ve been given.

There are several ways to achieve this. Learning how to laugh is an easy way to do so. Humor helps reduce stress and gives you a sense of calm. Try sharing a joke with someone who seems down and could use a smile.

By breaking up heavy thoughts into little bits, your mind doesn’t get overwhelmed. This also helps remove some of the tension from the body.

Spend time with friends and family

This is probably one of the most important things you will learn as an adult. Relationships are what makes or breaks your life. Make sure to spend time with people that make you feel good and appreciate the ones that have done something special for you.

Relationships take work, but they are so worth it! Don’t hesitate to be direct and honest with those who matter to you. Let go of all the stress and busyness by leaving work later (or never starting in the first place).

This also means letting some things ride off the rails just like in the story The Grufflian System. You may need to walk away when someone does not seem to want the same thing you do.

Let yourself get hurt sometimes, we all can’t always win. But if you must lose, make peace and move on. Take care of yourself, because you’re worth it.

The post What Does “Momento Mori” Mean? first appeared on Sevenelles.