Way back when I was little, whenever this question came up, I wouldn't think at all before giving the answer: "Yes, I want to live forever." Funny!
But now, my mind is mature and thoughtful. I have seen that choosing to live forever will only be fine, sweet, and entertaining in the first few years. But when it spans many years, it becomes regretful, no matter how comfortable one lives.
This song by Jay-Z, Young Forever, always comes to mind whenever I think of this subject of immortality. Just like it's said in the song—everyone wants to be young forever, no one wants to grow old and lose the fun of life—but in the long run, that desire would only make one beg for death to come.
If immortality could be purchased, would I opt for it?
My answer is NO!
Living forever means I would watch my younger ones die, including my children, while I live on and bear the pain. Would I want that? No way!
In my family, we have the grace for longevity, and in the few years I have spent on earth, I have lived closely with some elderly ones. I’ve seen how joyful they become whenever the subject of death is brought up. To them, they've fulfilled life, and if God takes them at any moment, they won't feel bad because they've lived and seen their children and grandchildren rise to the limelight. This is one of the beauties of old age—living to die fully fulfilled.
I can't even imagine the scene. Being immortal means I would live while everyone I know dies, and new people will come, live, die, and go, while I still remain. It’s going to get tiring. That’s for sure.
I want to take it a bit further with my thoughts. Living forever doesn't mean that my body will continue to be like a baby, right? Of course, our bodies are physical and will grow old, and probably, while staying on earth forever, I won’t be able to remain active due to the weakness of physical strength. That means I would likely be confined to a house and unable to fend for myself. Who would look out for me when all the children and everyone I know are gone? You wouldn't expect the sixth generation to care for me the way my children would.
But come to think of it, if the body would remain young forever, it becomes a bit more considerable—especially in light
of one of the most beautiful movies with a good storyline I once watched, titled Kangchi. We saw how this guy lived across different generations to the extent that people he knew in his early days, who had died, came back in the form of reincarnation or something like that. He recognized them, calling them by their old names, but they couldn’t recognize him because the lives they were living at that moment had nothing to do with the ones they lived before. Staying on earth forever to witness this kind of experience looks beautiful, but I'll still say NO.
Thanks for reading.
This is my entry to Hivenaija prompt of the week