Whilst I am not an all-out, fanatical about Christmas person, I still don’t usually like to put a damper on the festivities. Bah Humbug, I hear you mutter. However, I am going to put a tiny nail in the wheel of celebration; who knows, it might make you pause.
The average life expectancy of the Western World is steadily rising and has been increasing by about 16 weeks a year since the year 2000, but whilst the average continues to climb, the maximum age (recorded) has not shifted one bit since the beginning of time. In case any of you out there are particularly ambitious, it is 120. Those with boundless funds are financing the drive to find the secret of longer life. I have bad news for them, evolution is against the idea.
So, even if we can’t pass it, we can, apparently, edge closer to that ridiculous number, but can everyone? Anyone who has a fascination with statistics (yes, we do exist), will guess that the average life expectancy quoted by the WHO is the ‘mean’ and sadly there are wild variations within that figure. For example, in Chicago, there is a 30-year difference in life expectancy between being born in Streeterville (prosperous) and being born in Englewood (deprived). In case you are appalled by that, try this: in the UK the life expectancy of a homeless man is just 45, and just 43 for a woman.
Incidentally, if you really want to depress yourself, check out the “Life Expectancy Calculator” on the ONS site – nothing like experiencing a Logan’s Run moment…
An obscene amount of money is spent in trying to stop or turn back the clock, just look at all the premium beauty products which will be inevitably under the tree next week. There are also billions and billions being poured into the research of biological suppressants to stem the ageing process by targeting some gene alleles (no, I can’t say it properly either) which have been shown to increase lifespan.
Living longer, and hopefully healthier, should not just be an option for the rich. Even a small portion of that investment would go a long way toward increasing the lifespan of the poor, just by helping them get off the street.
It’s Christmas time, the time of caring and giving. Let’s work out how to give some of those extra years to those who could really do with them. We, in the property sector, may not be in the clique of the super-rich, but we are in a unique position to help the homeless.
Follow this link to LandAid, and offer a gift that’s actually going to be wanted!