After reading Ray Kurzweil’s The Singularity Is Near, I’m increasingly convinced that within the next two decades, many of us might have the option to extend our lives indefinitely. A bold claim? Maybe.
However, advancements in biotechnology and nanotechnology are accelerating at an incredible rate—likely faster than we can mentally and socially adapt to.
This realization made me reflect on how we rush through life, driven by the belief that our time is limited. We hear phrases like:
- “Life is short—make the most of it.”
- “You only have a small window to achieve success.”
- “It’s now or never.”
- “If you snooze, you lose.”
- “I can’t afford to spend three years going back to school.”
But what if time wasn’t a constraint? What if science allowed us to repair damaged organs, remove toxins from our bodies, and regenerate cells indefinitely?
Would we still live with the same sense of urgency? Would we continue tolerating jobs we dislike or relationships that don’t bring us happiness?
If time was no longer a factor, would we:
- Slow down and truly enjoy the journey?
- Pursue the career we’ve always dreamed of without fear of running out of time?
- Invest more in meaningful, long-term relationships?
Perhaps the biggest question isn’t whether we’ll live forever—but rather, how we would choose to live if we could.