I recently read an essay in the Wall Street Journal titled, “Living to 100 and Beyond.”  As I read about the technology that is rapidly increasing human longevity, the movie Death Becomes Her began replaying in my mind.  I imagined myself following in Meryl Streep’s and Goldie Hawn’s footsteps and taking some magic potion that makes me immortal.  However, instead of the body deteriorating with age like the Streep and Hawn rivalry, advances in modern technology will likely not only increase life span but also health spans.   Living for centuries may seem appealing on the surface, but we should consider the overall effects of a longer life.

The essay addresses how relationships could improve: marriages could last longer and families would continue to grow as years of fertility grow.  Also, professionals suggest that per capita income will increase as people will be able to work and invest longer.  Though social and economic improvements are important, as I continued reading the cinematic comedy in my mind gave way to advocacy on behalf of the environment.  Not until the end of the article does the author acknowledge the impacts longer life would have on the planet.  How disappointing that Earth was not discussed sooner or more in depth. The information provided gave the impression that global finances were more significant than the livelihood of the world that supports all life.

Just as Streep and Hawn discovered that immortality was not as grand as they hoped, longer healthy life spans will not be as promising unless the sake of the environment is considered.  I also suspect that this life extension would damper human curiosity.  Would I still be amazed at the intricacies within my surrounding ecosystem if I were to live for more than a century?  Complacency is a great fear of mine, and I would not want to gamble with the potentiality of becoming complacent in my surroundings due to this proposed longevity.  While I applaud advancements in technology, I do not believe that the world is prepared for the amount of resources longer life would require.  For me, I am content with living a day at a time and seizing as many progressive opportunities I may have in my however long (or short) lifetime.