A Life of Rotting

Daily Meditation 804–5/12/2024

There’s someone I’ve known for many years. A couple decades, in fact. We’ll call them Phil.

Phil was pretty old when I first met him. Perhaps mid to late 60s, but he always sounded and appeared older than this…

It was from a life of consumption. Alcohol, cigarettes, partying — even now as he’s nearly 90.

Whether or not it’s been a “good” life or one of good health is another discussion. Today’s DM is about addiction and the fees it accrues on most of us. Phil may be a real “specimen” in terms of his ability to live beyond what 70+ years of alcoholism and smoking (and more? I don’t know for sure, but have suspicions), but most of us would have a rather large “fee” from 70 years of such a lifestyle:

Cancers.
Lung damage.
Liver cirrhosis.
Diabetes.
Countless destroyed and transactional relationships.
Possible homelessness and rehab care.

These all taken individually would be horrible by themselves. But even a cocktail of 2–3 would make for a life of misery — all in exchange for the brief dopamine hit from the ambrosia of alcohol passing your lips.