The Mortality Index

The Mortality Index 

“Mortality is very different when you're 20 to when you're 50”.  

Keanu Reeves 

Mortality could be linked to every person and frankly everything that moves.  What is a person’s life expectancy or a new car or set of tires, it is the unknown ‘X-Factor’.  Longevity, think length of existence or service, is crystal ball material. I live my life with the mantra of “giving ourselves better odds”.  It is my rule of thumb. 

Everything has a beginning, middle and an end.  It is on us to determine the length of time for each. 

Want your car to last longer; change the oil frequently, and do the preventive maintenance on schedule.  Want to live longer; eat better food, move more, and keep a positive attitude.  Nothing is guaranteed, but you certainly increase your odds. 

Anyone who has listened to my radio program has probably heard me say the term ‘MiddleLiving’.  I came up with this when I got sick of hearing about the dreaded ‘Mid-Life Crisis’ which is some obscure time in a person’s life when you start making bad decisions as you think about your impending mortality.  

Here is my personal longevity table- 

  • Youth and adolescence- birth to 18 or 19 

  • Young adulthood-20 to 39 

  • MiddleLiving- 40 to 85 

  • SuperiorSeniors- 86+++ 

To increase our odds, and avoid the downward spiral of looking backward (midlife crisis) please look forward.  Here is my new model which I am calling “I-Cubed”!  Here is the breakdown; think about this- 

  • Impact- Will I make an impact in the world 

  • Influence- What can I become a change agent for 

  • Inspiration- Who can I inspire to change in a positive way 

Thinking with this simple concept of ‘I-Cubed’ our odds increase, our mortality index is lengthened strengthened and quality of life is improved.  Try these- 

  • Leave the world in a better place, make an impact. 

  • Earn it, share it, influence it 

  • Optimism breeds inspiration, period 

  • Live long, love longer, be happier! 

peace