April 14, 2002
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Butterfly Time
Monarch butterflies have an interesting life cycle. Butterflies born in early summer have an expected life span of 45-65 days. Butterflies born in late summer migrate south and survive through the winter so they have a life expectancy in the range of 240-270 days. There is no genetic difference between those born in early and late summer, they may even be offspring of the same parents.
What would it be like to know that you and all your peers had a life expectancy that was at best only about 1/3 the life expectancy of the generation that would come after you? I don't know that I'd handle it well. But I think I could handle that better than being a part of the long-lived generation. The guilt of knowing that the lucky accident of my birthdate granted me triple the days of the previous hatching would keep me up nights.
None of us know how many days we have. But, I think that for most of us, faced with the prospect of losing someone we love, or seeing our own life end, there is no comfort in the fact that humans can expect to live an average of 26,645 days give or take. I found a life expectancy calculator here that suggests that I may have a few more that the average number of days coming to me. According to the statistical assessment of my risk factors, I can expect to have 33,580 days of life and reasonably good health. I was wrong. I don't feel guilty that the numbers look to be in my favor. I just wish that all those numbers were higher.
Compared to the time granted to a butterfly, humans have an embarrassment of riches. But I expect that whether we are butterflies or people, we'd all like one more day.
Comments (15)
Your words ring true. It's a rare thing to truly recognize the riches in daily life and appreciate what we have while we have it.
The next best thing is to marry the right person. Then life will seem to last an eternity. <g>
Reminds me of the quote: "Never regret getting older, for it is a privilege denied to many."
And:
"Millions long for immortality who do not know what to do with themselves on a rainy Sunday afternoon" - Susan Ertz, "Anger In The Sky" (1943).
Hey!! What's up with breaking into my site????
Life is to be lived and experienced, moment by moment so that nothing is missed. zera
Funny thing, I've alwqays considered a butterfly a messenger of God. Like a way for him to say hello. A reminder. Know what I mean? Like an Angel of sorts.
Happy Sunday!
I only need one more...and it's always *tomorrow*.
I loved your analogy.
I'd sure like one more day if it were to be with my children while they are young. If, however, I'm an old suffering widow and it's my time, I don't think I'd like one more day--on earth.
http://scriptures.lds.org/mosiah/16/9#9
Lovely sentiments. Tom's brother Ronnie, who passed away before I ever met Tom used to say on his birthday, "I'm thankful that I made it this far." I've heard people bemoaning their birthdays, and I don't understand it. It is coming up on 45 for me, and I'm happier right now than ever because I'm 45 years old and still feel so young.
Thanks so much for your words of support and love at my blog. You are one of my favorite Xangalife and I look forward always to reading your thoughts.
Big hugs!
Lovely and wonderful!!
Heck man the male mosquito lives for 24 hours. He really chants just one more day..........
I'll take as many as I can get and I'm very thankful for them.
a day, or part of a day, and as many of the same as possible with just one person.
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