Dying - thoughts on the process
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1. Ending of days
The writer was faced with personal immortality sometime around the age of 69. Up until that point there was pride in the fact of going to a doctor and the question initially being asked was: "What are you on?" to which the response was: "Nothing." That changed early in 2026 when faced with (1) scoliosis of the spine; (2) hernias; (3) high blood pressure; (4) relationship breakdown and stress; (5) isolation and loneliness. All of these combined, with the imminent onset of 70, meant that for the first time, one's own mortality actually came to mind. There was no real problem with that - to pass away at any time would have been fine - psychologically and spiritually the writer was prepared for that. However, up until that point there had always been the view that life would extend to 100 years. Strange, but true. Why? It is just a feeling that had existed since around the age of 16. It was also realised that the real problem - the core issue - all of a sudden was the stress involved in the above issues. In many ways it was stress that was driving all the physiological problems, with items #4 and #5 the primary points of origin of items #1 to #3, apart from the natural aging process of course. So what to do?
An interesting podcast by an American physician caused this blog to be written. It listed five items that lead to the early onset of death. They included the following:
- No resistance training, i.e., no lifting, pushing, carrying heavy things, weight training. Rather, just participating in low energy exercise. This is a normal sign of aging, of the "slowing down" process. However, that is no excuse for the diminution of resistance workouts.
- Sleeping problems - waking after only 2-3 hours of sleep, and then going back to sleep; regular interruptions and the numerous negative effects this has on the body. The solutions include things like regularity in going to bed; no food 2-3 hours prior; no screens; darkness and stillness; and minimizing stress.
- Chronic psychological stress, extending over an extensive period of time. This can be minimized with activities such as daily nasal breathing; early morning sunlight; resting during the day.
- Lack of stimulating daily activity. This can be dealt with through the seeking of regular intellectual challengers, veracious reading, playing a musical instrument, carrying out research, and pursuit of novelty.
- Years of carrying unresolved emotional pain. This is a big one, and not easily addressed. First, one has to recognize the problem.
Patients who decline fastest, Dr. Mitch Rice, 18 May 2026, YouTube, duration: 12.23 minutes.
The writer, at the time, ticked all of these boxes of course. Is that normal? In some ways it could be said that it comes with aging. However, it can also be said that all of these can be minimize, if not negated, so that the centenarian goal can be reached. For example, the writer noted that when he visited family, the tendency was to sleep 7-8 hours uninterrupted, as opposed to the interrupted sleep experienced when isolated from them.
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References
Titova, Olga E., John A. Baron, Karl Michaelsson and Susanna C. Larsson, Anger frequency and risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, European Heart Journal - Open, 6:2(4), August 2022.
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Last updated: 30 May 2026
Michael Organ, Australia
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