“We live longer but less precisely and in shorter sentences.“

Wislawa Szymborska

~

I’ve been complaining a lot about my neck pain lately, but during the time I spent sitting alone at home, I experienced bliss in many ways.

I focused on consuming extra healthy vegan meals, resting, fasting, taking Epsom salt baths, having cold showers, practising yoga, and attempting to meditate. I embraced a wellness mode passionately.

While my friends and acquaintances were doing birthday parties and dancing bachata in Croatia, I was on my own, engrossed in watching Bryan Johnson’s longevity youtube videos, completely unconcerned about societal expectations.

It was truly amazing.

Now that I’m back to my social life, I want to incorporate some of these healthcare practices into my typically chaotic existence. Last week, I attended a conference, danced with strangers on the streets of Liverpool, and even attended two birthday parties in a single night (one of which I organised). So, maybe I’m not doing that well, but I’m trying.

Today, I had some Botox injections in my trapezius muscles for the aforementioned neck pain, which has left me confined to my home.

Meanwhile, my friends are dancing at London Bridge Terrace, while my thoughts revolve around longevity.

So here I am, writing them down.

~

It’s quite interesting how I mocked this person in a recent post. However, I’ve become a fan after listening to approximately a dozen interviews with him.

Despite lacking a medical background, he wholeheartedly believes in science. He relies on a team of researchers and healthcare professionals whose opinions he trusts, and his life choices are all data-driven.

So, who exactly is he, and what does he do?

His name is Bryan Johnson, and he is known as ‘the most measured human in human history.’

Essentially, he measures all his vital signs, markers, and organ system functions to slow his biological age and minimize physiological damage.

His approach includes a restrictive calorie-deficient vegan diet, daily exercise, an optimized sleep schedule, meditation, over 100 supplements, and various treatments.

Moreover, he strives to appear younger, diligently using sunscreen daily (which I highly recommend), undergoing laser treatments, and injecting fat into his face.

~

So, why did I become a fan of his?

He does a lot of things pro publico bono. You can learn a lot from his YouTube channel and website. He has so much money that he can easily do that, but it’s still commendable.

He believes that living longer should go hand in hand with changing people’s mindsets. They should stop harming themselves, refrain from engaging in self-destructive behaviours such as poor eating habits, and strive to minimize harm to others and the planet. He is also an ethical vegan.

His entire philosophy is based on being truly kind to oneself, akin to being a great parent.

It’s a challenging endeavour, but it may be the true path to happiness and doesn’t necessarily require substantial resources.

Bryan refers to himself as a professional rejuvenation athlete, and his lifestyle is extreme. But isn’t the lifestyle of all athletes extreme for a regular person? He seems at peace with himself, devoid of arrogance, and wants to enjoy his life while doing something good for humanity.

~

However, I see some flaws in this approach. Being so restrictive with one’s diet and fitness regimen is unimaginable for most people, and changing people’s mindsets about it would be very challenging.

It’s not difficult for me personally, as changing my diet comes easily to me, and I exercise daily anyway.

But there’s another side to this coin—for individuals with certain tendencies, being so restrictive could be truly destructive. The calorie deficit can act as a gateway to an eating disorder, and having one’s life measured so meticulously can lead to obsession.

In my case, if I engage in intermittent fasting for more than 3-4 days, I stop being interested in food and completely lose my appetite. It may sound like the most annoying complaint in the world, but it’s actually quite stressful when you have to force yourself to eat or worry about potentially damaging your health due to a lack of nutrients.

Moreover, I believe the most fundamental principles, such as sufficient sleep, consuming more vegetables, calorie restriction, and exercise, may not necessarily require big financial resources (however, “big” is very subjective when it comes to money). It still, however, reflects a privileged point of view. I don’t have children yet— and Bryan’s kids are teenagers. Your priorities change when you have little ones to care for (and I believe it’s worth it).

~

I read ‘Lifespan’ by David Sinclair a few years ago, but my ex never returned it, so I can’t reread it now for the purpose of this post (thanks).

Sinclair is a scientist who works on longevity, and thanks to his research, he has definitely played a role in the remarkable success of several life-prolonging supplements in the market. Oh well. Most of them were mainly tested on mice.

In “Lifespan,” Sinclair delves into various scientific discoveries, including the role of sirtuins (a class of proteins) and NAD+ (a coenzyme) in regulating cellular ageing, as well as the potential benefits of interventions like caloric restriction and genetic manipulation in extending lifespan. He also explores the potential of emerging technologies, such as gene therapy, stem cell therapy, and senolytics (drugs that target senescent cells), in combating age-related diseases and promoting healthier ageing.

~

Sinclair believes that with the rise of technology, there will be enough resources for people who will only live longer and longer. That ageing-related diseases will be eradicated and we will be able to enjoy our full lives for longer, be productive and content.

I tend to align with this anti-ageing philosophy since the core of my own personal philosophy revolves around reducing suffering.

That’s why I try to minimize animal products in my diet and strive to be kind to those around me, avoiding causing harm whenever possible.

Ageing is a form of suffering, and I believe that if we can mitigate the damage it inflicts, we should do so.

However, we should also focus on making healthy foods, free medications, and medical care accessible to everyone. Without these, people will suffer from life-altering chronic diseases, regardless of how much they fast or exercise.

Just one instance of cancer or the onset of Alzheimer’s can drastically affect one’s life.

I also contemplate how appealing the call to strive for a longer life would be for people with mental illnesses. If their existence is already overwhelmingly burdensome, would they truly feel motivated to extend it?

Additionally, during times when I’ve battled chronic neck pain, I’ve had intrusive thoughts questioning whether I would truly want to live with such pain for another 80 years.

While I know my pain will eventually subside, it helps me empathize with those whose suffering is not temporary. They might not want to endure it for a seemingly endless period.

~

So, what are my plans with all this knowledge I’ve gained during my holidays from life?

If I eat any less, I might actually disappear, so I’ll strive for a balanced approach.

I’m genuinely considering going vegan purely for ethical reasons.

I already exercise extensively but could increase weight training to build muscle mass.

My biggest challenges lie in sleep and stress management.

What’s the point of living 120 years if you’re perpetually sleep-deprived like me (well, being perpetually sleep-deprived likely won’t lead to a long life)?

There are many things to improve, and it will require work.

~

But there’s one thing I want to emphasize—especially when I write—I don’t feel any age.

Feeling ageless and free from my body’s limitations makes me want to live as long as possible.

I feel close to myself, connected to my soul. As long as I can create, there will be a reason to stay, and that motivates me to endure those chilling cold showers and maybe even try to get more sleep.

~

Bookstores don’t provide
a remote control for Proust,
you can’t switch
to a soccer match,
or a quiz show, win a Cadillac.


We live longer
but less precisely
and in shorter sentences.


We travel faster, farther, more often,
but bring back slides instead of memories.
Here I am with some guy.
There I guess that’s my ex.
Here everyone’s naked
so this must be a beach.


Seven volumes—mercy.
Couldn’t it be cut or summarized,
or better yet put into pictures.
There was that series called “The Doll,”
but my sister-in-law says that’s some other P.*


And by the way, who was he anyway.
They say he wrote in bed for years on end.
Page after page
at a snail’s pace.
But we’re still going in fifth gear
and, knock on wood, never better.”

― Wisława Szymborska Here