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Why living forever isn't a good idea

by Nel Chong

Created on: March 20, 2010   Last Updated: March 21, 2010

Power and greed push people to go to the extreme into attaining greater power and wealth. It is a lust that needs to be quenched and yet it was never enough.

All over the world since the beginning of mankind, people have been seeking the way to becoming immortal. Irregardless of race and religion, man and woman are fascinated by the idea of not dying. Of forever remaining young and beautiful. With eternity comes naturally, people believe, power and wealth.

Kings from the west, emperors from the east, priests from all walks of religions and cults, one or another, would seek the way to eternal life. That is why in history from the east to the west, we have tales of gods and demons with divine power and strength. In real events, we have kings or emperors looking for pills or medicines that can prolong their longevity and youth.

However, is it a real deal to live forever?

Time is a merciless writer. He wrote the path of individual man and woman strewn with emotions entangled with memories. As one grows older, our doors to the world becomes wider and bigger. Our eyes to the horizon become endless with ideas, dreams and hopes. Always and always we would lament that time is not enough. We have so much regrets and disappointments that we wish we could turn back time and restart all over again. Or rather, if we could not re-write history, then let us borrow more time to atone for it.

If only we could live forever! To finish up what was left undone. To restart one's chapter of life again!

The rich and powerful would love to live on and on to become even more wealthier and powerful.

The young and beautiful ones would beg to retain their youthful looks for eternity!

The question is: Would we sell our soul to the devil to attain eternity? Literally, I mean.

To live forever is a cold and lonely road. While others around us fade away, we live forever. Could we imagine that our best friends dies while we live on? Our beloved wives or husbands buried deep down 8ft underground while we breathe the air above them? As the world changes we moved with Time too? To forget the ones we loved and hold dear to again and again? To lose them to Time again and again? Would the deep grief of loss be enough compensation for what we wish for? To live forever?

We are human beings. In order to steel ourselves against heartache should we ever become the 'eternal being', we would need to be cold and emotionless. Like the deities in the heavens, we can still be compassionate but never again would we want to feel and need love. We would lose the path of being human.

Would we even be human by then?

To be rich forever when we are immortal? That sounds great does not it? However, what if we are to be poor forever?

Well, from my point of view, the idea of being, living, forever is definitely not my cup of tea. To lose my soul and perhaps my humanity is not a good deal, too. And you?

Learn more about this author, Nel Chong.
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