Aging, Purpose, Curiosity, and Music

Better living and better dying beats longevity.

I scanned this quickly. Spelling and usage are all subject.

Summary:
The world is burning, angst is high, and I’m still finding beauty and fascination.

---

We are all going to die one day

This is getting off to a fun start, eh?

Weird fact: I’ve been thinking about aging and mortality far more in the past year or so than I ever have.

And that’s actually not a weird fact. It is, based on what I’ve read and listened to, fairly common. It seems between 55 and 65, there is a realization that we have flown through middle-age and are well into the back nine* of life.

* I don’t golf.. not sure why I used a golfing analogy.

So, it is not weird that I’m thinking about it more. I turned 60 last December. It is predictable that I’m thinking about it more. But it is weird to me that the topic crosses my mind as often as it does.

A few false “truisms” about aging:

• Age is just a number.

• You are only as old as you think you are.

Age is NOT just a number. Regardless of your health, age is a physiological reality. Currently, we are all going to die. There is no solving that. And, leading to that inevitability, it is very likely that we will experience a steady decline of function.

Certainly, the degree that you can maintain a reasonably functional level of health - both physical and mental (mental health is also physical - but you know what I mean) - the more “normal” your aging experience is likely to be.

I just listened to a podcast (see below) about aging. Nothing earth-shattering but I found it interesting.

When pressed for the one hack to make the experience of aging better, Stanford geriatrician (researches aging) & gerontologist (physician who treats/works with aging patients), Deborah Kado immediately said, “exercise!”

This is fairly understood but the podcast host pushed back and said, “We discussed exercise already so you have to pick something else.”

“Awe!” - was her nearly immediate reply.

I liked that response… it resonates with me.

Curiosity to learn and experience new things.

She also mentions purpose. I believe curiosity is what leads to purpose or could be purpose unto itself.

It isn’t that awe, curiosity, or purpose necessarily lead to longevity - not in a direct physiological sense. I’m not indicating they don’t either - just that causality is hard to test.

But a byproduct if those elements probably cause one to take the mandate to exercise more seriously. This will likely improve functionality (and possibly longevity due to related comorbidities).

But since we don’t really know how long any one person is going to live - ie: I could fall later today and die - longevity may be the least interesting benefit to exercise and awe!

Experienced pleasure and, potentially, a better death, are, in my opinion, more important than longevity.

What I mean is, living to 95, in poor health, pain, not reasonably functional… miserable - seems far less interesting than living to 75 while experiencing beautiful things, having wonderful relationships, and being creatively engaged.

Don’t get me wrong, a both/and situation would be nice.

Of course, genetics play a big part. My parents used to say, “The easiest way to live long is have parents & grandparents who lived long.”

Also, that isn’t to say that someone in physical decline - perhaps dealing with an disease they have little agency over - can’t be creativity engaged and experiencing pleasure.

Also, it seems that some people derive satisfaction out of being miserable. Go at it then! Namaste and all that shit!

Anyway… below is the podcast. And then below that, a few things I find wonderful and induce awe or life engagement.

---

Awe & Curiosity

Music is the first

Since my visit to The Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival last year, music - playing and listening - has been my greatest source of internalized pleasure.

Personally, improving my vocals and my playing has been of paramount importance. And that focus has been increasing nearly daily. I’ve doubled-down on improving my vocals and my playing. In fact, next week, I’m starting some bluegrass guitar lessons.

I’ve been working on recordings and may have a couple acoustic tunes ready to publish as soon as today. But, I’ve had a few goals to complete before their release.

Shared music is the second

Last Sunday I was in a curious state of mind. I took my guitar and Rain, my pup, outside around 8pm and sat on the grass across the alley from our condo. I started playing a few songs.

First Amelia and Adalina showed up roller skating. They are sisters who live in our community. Next Srinivas, his wife Punya, and their two daughters were walking by and joined us. Then Greg, Frank, and Sergio.

I played folk songs and some of the bluegrass songs I’m learning.

We all agreed that this was what Sunday afternoons should be. Greg owns a few guitars but hasn’t played recently. He wants to learn some of the folk songs I played. Srinivas would like to learn as well.

I’ve asked Greg to get me his favorite guitar. I’ll re-string it and get it ready to play. I’ve told Srinivas that I have a guitar he can use to start learning. Three chords will give both of them at least 6 of the songs I played that afternoon.

When I finally went inside, a little after 10pm, I told Deb that it may have been the best Sunday I’ve experienced in many years.

The Brown Bears at Brooks Falls, Alaska

Between June and October, the brown bears in the Katmai National Park in Alaska, gather at Brooks Falls, eating as many as 40 salmon a day. I check the Live Stream at least once a day and have watched as many as 14 bears all hunting the falls at the same time.

Also, there is an ongoing chat between 7am and 5pm PDT. There are named areas around the falls and you can see those here. And there is a guide to bear identification as well - get that here.

Consciousness and the Illusion of Self or You Are Not Reading This

I don’t know if the “self” is an illusion but “I/You” seems to be just a label we give to bio-chemical reactions/interactions in the brain.

Either way, you are not reading this because there does not seem to be a you to do so.

Understand, that while I believe this, I fully recognize two things: The science is still out on this and, more importantly, “I” still interact in this world as a person.

---

---

I’m grateful that I am fairly healthy. I do 100 to 150 pushups plus some dumbbell exercises four or more days a week. I’m back on my bike and plan to do 3+ days a week.

When on the bike, I try to leave 30 minutes before sunrise. I need to beat the heat. I took this photo the other morning.

I’m also grateful that I’m curious to learn new things and have new experiences. There are many people in this world who are not so fortunate and I do NOT want to take that for granted. I did not earn the privilege of this opportunity.

Let me know what you have found interesting, awe-inspiring, and/or beautiful this week.

Thank you for joining me on this journey.

With Love and Gratitude,
Matthew Moran
July 26, 2026