How often do you ponder your own mortality? Does it bother you?
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Docca
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How often do you ponder your own mortality? Does it bother you?
Since turning 50 I’ve noticed a distinct increase in the amount of time I think about my own death.
Not in any miserable way. I love my life. More in the context of some lament as I think more and more about how I won’t see how stories progress or end. Maybe turning 50 is a psychological nudge.
I won’t make old bones and I’m not afraid of dying, I’m just more reflective on stuff I’ll stop enjoying ( children growing up, garden, motorbike, pounding the wife)
Happy Friday!
Not in any miserable way. I love my life. More in the context of some lament as I think more and more about how I won’t see how stories progress or end. Maybe turning 50 is a psychological nudge.
I won’t make old bones and I’m not afraid of dying, I’m just more reflective on stuff I’ll stop enjoying ( children growing up, garden, motorbike, pounding the wife)
Happy Friday!
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v8-powered
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Re: How often do you ponder your own mortality? Does it bother you?
I do often think about it - death doesn't particularly bother me but how the people I'll leave behind will feel does bother me.
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Nordboy
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Re: How often do you ponder your own mortality? Does it bother you?
I do, more than I should I guess.
I'm 55 this year, lost my dad when he was 58 (25 yrs ago), he was a damn sight fitter than I am. So I suppose I compare myself to him and wonder if I've only got a few years left. Stupid really.
I'm also retiring in a few months from my 'career' which always seemed so far away. I'm carrying on working but I guess it's one of the major milestones? And how many milestones have I got left.
But I do find myself thinking that I'm FAR closer to the end. Bit bloody morbid
I'm 55 this year, lost my dad when he was 58 (25 yrs ago), he was a damn sight fitter than I am. So I suppose I compare myself to him and wonder if I've only got a few years left. Stupid really.
I'm also retiring in a few months from my 'career' which always seemed so far away. I'm carrying on working but I guess it's one of the major milestones? And how many milestones have I got left.
But I do find myself thinking that I'm FAR closer to the end. Bit bloody morbid
- dern
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Re: How often do you ponder your own mortality? Does it bother you?
56 - never, what's the point? Could be today, could be in 30 years time.
- DefTrap
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Re: How often do you ponder your own mortality? Does it bother you?
Worried lots in my 30s.
Since turning, and surpassing, 50 it's mainly worrying about things that have started to go wrong and fall off so TBH it's more about maintaining what's left, so the end part doesn't bother me so much as the getting there. It'd be more constructive to try to ensure that others aren't pleased when I shuffle on. But it's all rather selfish and introspective, most of us leave small ripples except for our very nearest and dearest.
I've started running regularly, having done sod all exercise in previous decades, so most likely endgame is my heart going pop in a field a few Ks from home.
Since turning, and surpassing, 50 it's mainly worrying about things that have started to go wrong and fall off so TBH it's more about maintaining what's left, so the end part doesn't bother me so much as the getting there. It'd be more constructive to try to ensure that others aren't pleased when I shuffle on. But it's all rather selfish and introspective, most of us leave small ripples except for our very nearest and dearest.
I've started running regularly, having done sod all exercise in previous decades, so most likely endgame is my heart going pop in a field a few Ks from home.
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Buckaroo
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Re: How often do you ponder your own mortality? Does it bother you?
This is a topic that's all too real for me with my mum's passing a month back. Odd, but it tends to enter my mind as each decade approaches. I'm 70 next year and I too worry about those I leave behind but, whilst I have no religion or faith, nor belief in the afterlife, knowing that when I die it's like a switch has been thrown and I will once again be part of the wider universe, to be repurposed into something else, gives me comfort.
My wife and I continue to try and position our kids and their families in the best place possible. Do it whilst you draw breath and they will be better able to carry the torch when you hand it to them.
Blimey that was serious!
My wife and I continue to try and position our kids and their families in the best place possible. Do it whilst you draw breath and they will be better able to carry the torch when you hand it to them.
Blimey that was serious!
- dern
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Re: How often do you ponder your own mortality? Does it bother you?
Hurry up, it's later than you think.Saga Lout wrote: Fri Jun 13, 2025 1:22 pm Never.
I'm going to live forever. I think I might write a song about it.![]()
- Scotsrich
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Re: How often do you ponder your own mortality? Does it bother you?
71 today and it occupies my thoughts more than it should.
I spent far too much of my working life in a job that took up most of my time and it’s only since retirement I see what I missed.
I’m not really ready to give it up.
I spent far too much of my working life in a job that took up most of my time and it’s only since retirement I see what I missed.
I’m not really ready to give it up.
- MrLongbeard
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Re: How often do you ponder your own mortality? Does it bother you?
Nope, at 51 I acknowledge I've lived for longer than I will live going forward, but we've all got to die, no point worrying or dwelling on it.
Don't get me wrong it pops up every now and again, the 'have you got a will' posts last week and the funeral I went to last week brought the subject to the front of my mind for a time, but a good nights sleep soon pushes it back down again.
Don't get me wrong it pops up every now and again, the 'have you got a will' posts last week and the funeral I went to last week brought the subject to the front of my mind for a time, but a good nights sleep soon pushes it back down again.
- Dodgy69
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Re: How often do you ponder your own mortality? Does it bother you?
I remember as a young lad thinking about it in bed at night and being quite worried, the big sleep.
From my later teens, never. Anyway, going by my parents attitude, they'd had enough towards the end and were quite ready for it.
Moral of the story, nothing to worry about.
From my later teens, never. Anyway, going by my parents attitude, they'd had enough towards the end and were quite ready for it.
Moral of the story, nothing to worry about.
Yamaha rocket 3
Re: How often do you ponder your own mortality? Does it bother you?
I think about it sometimes but more in a "hmm I'm closer to death now than I was 10 years ago" kind of thinking, but it doesn't really bother me.
- Skub
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Re: How often do you ponder your own mortality? Does it bother you?
We'll all miss that too.
I'll be 70 in a few weeks and I know lots of folk now in the boneyard,so yes I do reflect on death at times. When you've sat with dying loved ones and been to more funerals than weddings,the topic is regularly visited. Even things like remembering dates and putting flowers on graves seems more important now. I never used to do that,my mother was dead 50 years before I visited her grave.
I don't fear death,but having no control over the manner of my demise concerns me. No one wants to rot in a 'care' home as a leaving present,but we don't get to pick. Also as a parent I wouldn't wish to live so long that I see any of my kids out. I understand now why my da hated me riding bikes.
"Be kind to past versions of yourself that didn't know what you know now."
Walt Whitman
https://soundcloud.com/skub1955
Walt Whitman
https://soundcloud.com/skub1955
- Noggin
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Re: How often do you ponder your own mortality? Does it bother you?
I never really thought I’d get to 30 (not happy mentally)
Definitely didn’t think I’d hit 40
So getting to over 50 and living somewhere I love is something of a surprise and a smidge puzzling


I worry that I may end up one armed and having to deal with that on my own - but I’ve dealt with everything before on my own, so I’m sure I’ll survive
The women in my family seem to live forever - not a thought I relish. But whilst I don’t consider death (except to occasionally try and work out how to leave anything I have to my niece and nephew with the least taxation possible!), I do worry that due to not expecting to live long, I’ve not made the sort of provisions for the future that I should have
But hey, I’m sure I’ll work it out somehow!! Probably. Maybe!!!
And there is of course the vague possibility that I won’t be alone!! But can’t be sure of that for a while




Definitely didn’t think I’d hit 40
So getting to over 50 and living somewhere I love is something of a surprise and a smidge puzzling
I worry that I may end up one armed and having to deal with that on my own - but I’ve dealt with everything before on my own, so I’m sure I’ll survive
The women in my family seem to live forever - not a thought I relish. But whilst I don’t consider death (except to occasionally try and work out how to leave anything I have to my niece and nephew with the least taxation possible!), I do worry that due to not expecting to live long, I’ve not made the sort of provisions for the future that I should have
But hey, I’m sure I’ll work it out somehow!! Probably. Maybe!!!
And there is of course the vague possibility that I won’t be alone!! But can’t be sure of that for a while
Life is for living. Buy the shoes. Eat the cake. Ride the bikes. Just, ride the bikes!! 
- Count Steer
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Re: How often do you ponder your own mortality? Does it bother you?
I've pondered on it in the practical sense ie made a will and stuff but not in any morbid way.
Que sera, sera and all that.
Que sera, sera and all that.
The plural of 'anecdote' is not 'data'.
- Cousin Jack
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Re: How often do you ponder your own mortality? Does it bother you?
I will be 80 next time around, and the evil day is getting closer but wtf can I do about it?
I make practical arrangements (Wills, Powers of Attornery, wishes for funerals, etc) and then just try to get on with life as though it may never happen. I might be lucky and live to 150.
I make practical arrangements (Wills, Powers of Attornery, wishes for funerals, etc) and then just try to get on with life as though it may never happen. I might be lucky and live to 150.
Cornish Tart #1
Remember An Gof!
Remember An Gof!
- Mr Moofo
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Re: How often do you ponder your own mortality? Does it bother you?
Turning 65 a few weeks ago was a bit of a moment for me.
Thank, and being dragged out of the regular queue to go to the Hiroshima A bomb memorial museum, and taken to the OAP line, by an over enthusiastic Japanese gent. I had truly arrived at old age ( and saved 50p on the 200 yen entry fee !)
For me the biggest step change is do things now that you want to do - and don't wait until next year. There may well be no next year.
Wills, POA, etc all done.
Thank, and being dragged out of the regular queue to go to the Hiroshima A bomb memorial museum, and taken to the OAP line, by an over enthusiastic Japanese gent. I had truly arrived at old age ( and saved 50p on the 200 yen entry fee !)
For me the biggest step change is do things now that you want to do - and don't wait until next year. There may well be no next year.
Wills, POA, etc all done.
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David
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Re: How often do you ponder your own mortality? Does it bother you?
I am 76..moderately healthy and working 2 or 3 days a week..
Often walk 7 sometimes 9 miles a day while working. One thing is sure...when i die, i will not be bothered.
What would freak me is being mentally challenged or physically disabled...i have left instructions, centred around some scotch and a lot of pills....
Often walk 7 sometimes 9 miles a day while working. One thing is sure...when i die, i will not be bothered.
What would freak me is being mentally challenged or physically disabled...i have left instructions, centred around some scotch and a lot of pills....
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asmethurst99
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Re: How often do you ponder your own mortality? Does it bother you?
I’m 62 - I’m a neurotic git sometimes so I’ve often thought about it.
- Noggin
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Re: How often do you ponder your own mortality? Does it bother you?
I learnt this probably 15-20 years when I realised I'd 'lost' a too high number of friends in a fairly short number of years.Mr Moofo wrote: Fri Jun 13, 2025 4:51 pm
For me the biggest step change is do things now that you want to do - and don't wait until next year. There may well be no next year.
Wills, POA, etc all done.
Then my BDad died - all the things I'd been trying to persuade him to do, both on his own and with me and/or my sister, couldn't happen. This happened in the middle of the friends falling off the mortal perch.
I've had to put things off for a few years due to physical issues and finances, BUT those things are still on the list and I'll have a go at getting the list as done as possible
(More stuff I want to do rather than paperwork tho
Life is for living. Buy the shoes. Eat the cake. Ride the bikes. Just, ride the bikes!! 
