So, I'm writing again.
In the past couple of weeks, two famous people died by suicide. Both were in their middle years, in their 50s and 60s. I'm speaking of Kate Spake and Anthony Bourdain.
I think Kate Spade was deeply depressed. I don't know much about Bourdain.
I don't have a conclusion about the whole thing, but I have a few thoughts.
Our society is so unsupportive of older adults. When someone older dies like this, we don't think about how much potential they had, as we do for young adults and teenagers. By our 60s, our potential has been realized already.
So we want them to stay alive, but... for what?
- Likely you'll have more pain as you age.
- Doctors want you to have all kinds of unpleasant tests.
- If something is wrong, you are strongly encouraged to treat it.
- You'll end up taking dozens of medications.
- You'll end up having surgeries. The more surgeries, the more likelihood something will go wrong.
- You're probably going to get cancer, become incontinent, get dementia and/or Alzheimer's disease.
- Your choices for assistance and support when you're older are lousy.
- Of course, Bourdain and Spade probably could have afforded some really good care. Most of us won't have that luxury.
- Society will start to ignore you.
I had hoped that maybe the Baby Boomer generation will change the face of aging and push America to create better choices.
Now I'm wondering if their contribution will be using suicide to avoid all the difficulties of growing older. Maybe by the time I get into my 70s, people will be crossing their arms and tapping their feet wondering why I haven't done it yet. By then, it will be expected.
