By: Jerry Nix | Freewavemaker, LLC                       Date Published: December 4, 2023

Dear Reader;

What is the average lifespan of an American person? Statistics tell us that it is different for different Americans. For example, for those that are alive today:

• A white American has a life-span of 78.5 years (on average), whereas
• A non-Hispanic black American has a life-span of 71.8 years (on average).

Over time life expectancies have increased primarily because of changes in the medical field and technology. The life expectancy for people born in 1950 as compared to those born in 2020 can be seen as follows:

As you can see … the older the population (e.g., the later they are born) the older the population should get (e.g., the later they should die). It appears, based on the research done by Artificial Intelligence Google BARD that Hispanics and Asians have really increased the greatest in life expectancy over the past 70 years – as compared to whites and blacks. Why is this? Well since I could not state it better, I will simply copy and paste what Google BARD had to say about it below:

The increase in life expectancy for Hispanic and Asian Americans over the past 70 years can be attributed to a combination of factors, including:

Socioeconomic factors:

• Education: Hispanic and Asian Americans have made significant gains in educational attainment over the past few decades. Higher levels of education are associated with higher incomes, better health insurance, and healthier lifestyles, all of which contribute to longer life expectancy.
• Immigration patterns: Hispanic and Asian Americans are more likely to be immigrants, and immigrants tend to be healthier than native-born Americans. This is because immigrants are typically self-selected, meaning that they are more likely to be healthy enough to make the journey to the United States.
• Family structure: Hispanic and Asian Americans tend to have strong family structures, which can provide social support and help to reduce stress. Social support and low stress levels are both associated with longer life expectancy.

Cultural factors:

• Dietary habits: Hispanic and Asian Americans tend to have healthier diets than white and Black Americans. They are more likely to eat fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and they are less likely to eat processed foods and sugary drinks.
• Emphasis on preventive care: Hispanic and Asian Americans are more likely to utilize preventive care services, such as regular checkups and screenings. This can help to detect and treat diseases early, which can improve survival rates.

Access to healthcare:

• Expansion of healthcare coverage: The expansion of healthcare coverage, such as through the Affordable Care Act and employer group health insurance plans, has helped to increase access to healthcare for Hispanic and Asian Americans. This has led to more preventive care and better treatment of chronic diseases, both of which can contribute to longer life expectancy.

It is important to note that there is still significant variability in life expectancy within each racial and ethnic group. For example, there is a large gap in life expectancy between Hispanic Americans who are born in the United States and those who are immigrants. Additionally, life expectancy can vary depending on socioeconomic status, even within the same racial or ethnic group.

Despite these disparities, the overall trend has been positive for Hispanic and Asian Americans. Their life expectancy has increased significantly over the past 70 years, and they are now living longer than white and black Americans. This is a testament to the hard work and resilience of these communities, as well as the progress that has been made in addressing the social, economic, and cultural factors that contribute to health disparities. Notice that I made bold the words “Hard Work.”

Can we as black and/or white American’s learn anything from this?

That all depends on if you want to or not. The one or two more things we could probably do better to increase our life expectancy even more is (a) watch what we eat and (b) focus more on our family structure. I strongly recommend surrounding ourselves with positive thinking family members and one way this could be done is to consider multiple “family reunions” often. Another would be making sure of our mate before we marry them. Children today need strong parents (not one parent but two).

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, approximately 50% of all marriages in the United States end in divorce. Of these divorces, about 60% occur in households with children under the age of 18. This means that approximately 30% (that’s 3 in 10) of all marriages with children end in divorce before the children reach the age of majority.

However, it is important to note that this is just an average, and the actual divorce rate for marriages with children varies depending on a number of factors, including the age of the parents at marriage, their education level, their income level, and their race or ethnicity. For example, couples who marry in their teens are more likely to divorce than couples who marry in their 20s or 30s. Couples with lower levels of education and income are also more likely to divorce than couples with higher levels of education and income. And Black and Hispanic couples are more likely to divorce than white couples.

Here are some additional statistics on divorce in the United States:

• The divorce rate has been declining in recent years, but it is still relatively high. This could be because the average age of people getting married for the first time is increasing.
• The average duration of a marriage that ends in divorce is about 8 years.
• The majority of divorces (60%) are initiated by women.
• The median age at divorce is 39 for men and 41 for women.

Divorce can be a difficult and stressful experience for everyone involved, especially for children. Now I will be the first to admit that some divorces are necessary – yet there are many that take place where both parents decide not to work to make the marriage work. These marriages should have probably not occurred in the first place.

As far as those having children out of wedlock, the divorces rate is extremely high. Studies have shown that the divorce rate for couples who had children out of wedlock is higher than the divorce rate for couples who married before having children. According to a 2014 study by the National Center for Family and Marriage Research, the divorce rate for couples who cohabited before marriage was 51%, compared to 32% for couples who married without cohabiting first. This proves wrong the “myth” that “We need to live together first to see if we’re compatible,” which came directly from Hollywood and some of the movies being produced.

The study also found that the divorce rate for couples who had children out of wedlock was 60%, compared to 39% for couples who waited to have children until after marriage.

Now I mention all of this because of what was said earlier about having strong family bonds being a reason for longer life expectancy. It is not impossible, but very hard, to have strong family bonds when there is a divorce that is hindering it.

So, why is life expectancy important and why should we concern ourselves with it?

What are some of the benefits for living longer?

First, and foremost, in my opinion – it is far better than the alternative (death)!

Living as long as possible can bring many benefits, both for individuals and for society as a whole. Here are some of the key benefits:

• Improved quality of life: People who live longer are more likely to enjoy good health and physical well-being. They are also more likely to be independent and active in their communities.
• Increased productivity and economic growth: Longer life expectancy can lead to a larger and more experienced workforce, which can boost productivity and economic growth.
• Reduced healthcare costs: Longer life expectancy can lead to lower healthcare costs, as people are less likely to need expensive medical treatments in their later years.
• Stronger families and communities: Longer life expectancy can lead to stronger families and communities, as people have more time to spend with their loved ones and contribute to their communities.
• Greater wisdom and knowledge: Longer life expectancy can lead to greater wisdom and knowledge, as people have more time to learn and grow.
• More time to pursue personal goals and interests: Longer life expectancy can give people more time to pursue their personal goals and interests, such as travel, hobbies, and education.

Of course, there are also some challenges associated with living longer. For example, people may need to save more for retirement, and they may need to find ways to stay engaged and active as they age. However, the benefits of living as long as possible far outweigh the challenges. As long, of course, as he quality of life is still present for the person living.

Overall, living as long as possible is a positive thing, both for individuals and for society as a whole. With advances in medical technology and a greater focus on healthy living, we can expect to see people living longer and healthier lives in the future.

Life as we know it is too short!

Barring accidents, suicide, drug overdose, crime committed against another, or illnesses early in life; the average American will live somewhere between 69 to 88 years of age. When these times are described in minutes (as we know of them today) that would be 36.3 million to 46.3 million minutes. That is not a lot of time when you consider that 1/3^rd of the time will be spent at work and 1/3^rd of the time will be spent at sleep (8 hours each day for each activity). That means that you only have between 12.1 million and 15.4 million minutes (23 years and 29.3 years) to really live and enjoy life (although some do enjoy their work as part of life).

Try this as an experiment to see how short life can be:

Purchase or obtain a seamstress measuring tape (a picture of one is below):

Now take this tape and cut-off any part greater than 80 inches (e.g., from 80 inches to the end of the tape).

Now hold the tape in your hand and cut-off the first 22 inches (from before the first inch to the 22^nd inch). This will be you Learning Years (from birth to normal College Graduation). This should leave a piece of tape that is about 58 inches long.

Next cut-off one third of that from where the 22-inch mark was (now the beginning of the tape) – so you would cut-off 19.5 inches of the measuring tape at roughly the 41.5-inch mark. This would be your work time.

This would leave you holding a piece of tape that is about 38.5 inches long.

Next cut off another 19.5 inches for your sleep time and your measuring tape would be about 19 inches long. That is the amount of time from death that you have to really live life to the fullest.

When you look at it this way (on a measuring tape) you see that life – the amount of time you have to live life anyhow – is really relatively short.

Medical science has given humans the ability to live life much longer than they are if we really take a look at our bodies and do what is necessary. I am not talking about existing in a wheel chair or on a walker for years … but really living life to the fullest. I’m sure you’ve heard the saying …

Remember I said earlier the older the population (e.g., the later they are born) the older the population should get (e.g., the later they should die). Let’s look at life expectancy of 19^th century (back in cowboy days for those who may not know … the 1800s) and here I will be referring to white males only.

Here’s a break-down by 3rds of the century:

• Early 1800s (1800-1829): Life expectancy was around 38-40 years, with many factors contributing to early deaths. These included infectious diseases like smallpox, yellow fever, and tuberculosis, as well as limited access to healthcare, poor sanitation, and dangerous working conditions.
• Mid 1800s (1830-1869): Life expectancy rose slightly to 40-42 years, thanks to improvements in public health and sanitation, advancements in medical care, and better nutrition. However, the Civil War (1861-1865) significantly impacted life expectancy, causing a decline for several years.
• Late 1800s (1870-1899): Life expectancy continued to climb, reaching 42-44 years by the end of the century. This was driven by continued progress in public health, sanitation, and medicine, including the development of vaccines and antibiotics.

Now let’s go way back to biblical times:

It’s difficult to pinpoint a precise average life expectancy for men in biblical days. Based on available evidence, estimates range from 30-40 years for the general population, with some exceptional individuals living significantly longer. Interpreting biblical ages requires considering the text’s literary context and potential symbolic meanings.

Back in biblical days there were a few people who had extremely long lives:

• Methuselah: Methuselah is said to have lived 969 years, making him the oldest person mentioned in the Bible.
• Jared: Jared is said to have lived 962 years.
• Noah: Noah is said to have lived 950 years.
• Adam: Adam is said to have lived 930 years.
• Enoch: Enoch is said to have lived 365 years, and he is credited with being the only person to have been taken up to heaven without dying.

Elijah, a prophet in the Old Testament, was taken up to heaven without dying. This event is described in 2 Kings 2:11-12:

“Now as they were going along, talking, there appeared a chariot of fire and horses of fire, which separated the two of them. And Elijah went up in the whirlwind to heaven.”

The Bible does not explicitly state Elijah’s age at the time of his ascension, but it is generally believed that he was around 50 years old. This is based on the fact that he had already been a prophet for many years, and the average life expectancy in biblical times was much shorter than it is today (Except for the few standouts mentioned above).

That brings us back to certain “standouts” today …

There are also some pretty old people living in America today. Here’s a list of the oldest as of December 2, 2023:

1. Edie Ceccarelli (California) – 115 years, 293 days
2. Fred Harold Hall (Maine) – 112 years, 289 days
3. Helen Meyer (Nevada) – 112 years, 257 days
4. Hester McCarren (New York) – 112 years, 185 days
5. Alelia Murphy (New York) – 112 years, 154 days

And if we consider those that have made it to 100 years plus (the Century Club) … this is what we now know:

According to the 2020 U.S. Census, there were 89,739 centenarians (age 100 and older) living in the United States. This represents a 20% increase from the 2010 Census, when there were 75,205 centenarians.

Centenarians are the fastest-growing age group in the United States. Their number is expected to reach 589,000 by 2060. This growth is due to a number of factors, including advances in medicine and public health, improved nutrition, and increased life expectancy.

The majority of centenarians in the United States are women. In 2020, there were 68,812 female centenarians and 20,927 male centenarians. This is due in part to the fact that women tend to live longer than men.

Centenarians are most commonly found in the Northeast and Midwest regions of the United States. In 2020, the states with the highest percentages of centenarians were Maine (0.74%), Vermont (0.73%), and Rhode Island (0.69%).

Centenarians are a remarkable group of people who have lived long and full lives. They are a testament to the human spirit and the power of resilience. I’m sure that if you asked most of these people about life, they would say something like,

Now that is wise advice when you think of it.

The young won’t pay much attention:

When you are young you don’t pay much attention to life expectancy … you have a lot of years (or roadway) in front of you. As you age you realize there is less road in front of you than there is behind you.

For example:

The life expectancy for a 20-year-old white male in America today is approximately 73.2 years. This means that, on average, a 20-year-old white male in America can expect to live for another 53.2 years. To him that is a long, long time.

The life expectancy for a 73-year-old white male in America today is approximately 81.3 years of age. This means that, on average, a 73-year-old white male in America can expect to live for another 8.3 years. A lot less road in front of him than behind him.

However, let’s assume that he lives to 81 years of age … what then?

Well … According to the 2022 Period Life Tables published by the National Vital Statistics Reports, the life expectancy for a white male in America, who is now 81 years of age, is approximately 7.82 years. This means that, on average, a 81-year-old white male in America can expect to live till he’s about 89 years of age. If he makes it to 89 there is a chance, he will live another 3.37 years or to age 92 … and the longer he lives the longer he is expected to live. Even at 100 he’s expected to live another year to 101.

But, let’s not forget the fastest growing segment of the population today in terms of percentages is those that are 100 or more. Many medical doctors have stated that people being born in this millennium should be able to live to be 120 years of age if they simply take care of themselves.

Conclusion:

I am 73 at my next birthday (which is why I used the 73 above). I firmly believe that many people my age today can live to be 120 years of age. Does this mean I can? Certainly, I could – though with my habits (a) poor eating habits and (b) 60-year smoking habit, (c) poor exercise habit, it is not likely – though possible. I know that I will live longer than some that came before me and some that will come after me. Knowing this I am also – very gradually – changing some of my poor “short-life” habits.

No one knows when there final day on this earth will be. But everyone knows, though they may not act on it, knows they should …

I believe only God knows your last day, and has known for some time, when it is. In fact, this is what the “Good Book” says (and my dad called it the God Book). Here’s a summary of different view points found in the #1 selling book in the world:

Predetermined timing:

• God’s appointed time: Passages like Psalm 139:16 (“all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be”) and Job 14:5 (“Man’s days are determined; you (God) have decreed the number of his months and have set limits he cannot exceed”) suggest that God sets a specific lifespan for each individual.
• Divine purpose: This view sees death as part of God’s grand plan, allowing for human flourishing, fulfilling prophecies, and ultimately bringing about His eternal Kingdom.

Human responsibility:

• Choice and consequences: The Bible warns against actions that shorten life, like violence, recklessness, and ignoring God’s laws (Proverbs 10:27, Romans 1:32). It implies that individuals can influence their lifespan through wise choices and obedience.
• Unforeseen circumstances: Accidents, natural disasters, and unforeseen events can also lead to death, highlighting the unpredictable nature of life (Ecclesiastes 9:11-12).

Emphasis on preparation:

• Living each day fully: Regardless of the specific timing, the Bible urges us to make the most of our lives, serving God, loving others, and seeking wisdom (Psalm 90:12).
• Eternal perspective: Death is not the end, but a passage to a new reality. The Bible offers hope for eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ, making the timing of earthly death less significant (1 Corinthians 15:51-57).

Overall, the Bible presents a nuanced view of death’s timing. While acknowledging God’s ultimate sovereignty, it also highlights human agency and the impact of choices. Ultimately, the focus is on living a meaningful life in light of the certainty of death and the hope of eternity. It’s important to note that different interpretations exist within various Christian traditions. Some emphasize God’s control more, while others focus on individual responsibility and living faithfully. The key takeaway is to engage with the Bible’s diverse perspectives and seek personal understanding guided by faith and prayer.

It is up to each individual to make the best of what life has to offer because you only get one real chance at it. In my personal life one of the things I do is to try to go someplace in the United States on my motorcycle, every year, that I have never been to before with the idea to learn something new. Yes, to those naysayers about motorcycles … it may kill me one day … but I will die in pleasure of doing what I love to do. After all, living a long pleasurable life is not a destination … it is a journey that begins with one step.

Making the best of life is a beautiful and personal journey. Here are some ideas to spark your own exploration:

Connect with purpose and meaning:

• Discover your passions: What truly excites and engages you? Explore hobbies, volunteer, travel, or take classes to discover what ignites your soul. There has to be something more than wasting away in a recliner in front of the TV.
• Live with intention: Set goals aligned with your values and passions. Break them down into actionable steps and celebrate milestones along the way. When you make these goals make them SMARRT goals (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Results oriented, Reachable and Time-bound).
• Make a difference: Contribute to something bigger than yourself. Volunteer, support a cause you believe in, or simply spread kindness and positivity. Sometimes a simple smile – which can be very contagious – makes all the difference in another person’s life.

Embrace growth and learning:

• Never stop learning: Challenge yourself intellectually and creatively. Read, take courses, learn new skills, and explore different perspectives. For example, I love Artificial Intelligence (AI). I love to ask it questions that helps me get through articles that I write and share with you.
• Step outside your comfort zone: Try new things, even if they scare you a little. Embrace discomfort as an opportunity for growth and self-discovery. As FDR was famous for saying, “We have nothing to fear but fear itself.” And Zig Ziglar often said FEAR is False Evidence Appearing Real. Embrace the fear. That’s how I learned to ride a motorcycle and still ride one at almost 73 years of age … I embrace the fear – to live! Oh, and I plan to ride it till I’m 85 if I am still alive then.
• Seek feedback and reflection: Ask for honest feedback, learn from your mistakes, and reflect on your experiences to gain valuable insights. This is why I ask for feedback on every article, story or poem that I produce. Sometimes the negative feed back can be the best to help me learn … and the positive feedback tells me that I am on the right track.

Nurture relationships and well-being:

• Prioritize loved ones: Invest time and energy in nurturing your relationships with family and friends. This is not easy … but it is a must to have a very fulfilling life. Sometimes in takes real work to get through to all the knuckleheads you may have in your family. Just remember … you can pick your friends but you can’t pick family.
• Build meaningful connections: Seek out like-minded individuals, engage in genuine conversations, and build authentic friendships. There are a lot of people out there that think, act, and like the things you like. Seek them out and make your life than much more fulfilling.
• Practice self-care: Prioritize your physical and mental health. Eat well, exercise regularly, get enough sleep, and nurture your emotional well-being. This too, can be hard to do … but believe me … it’s worth every minute. There are days that I can’t stand to walk or ride my exercise bike or go to the gym, but I know to stretch the days I have left in front of me – I must!

Find joy in the everyday:

• Practice gratitude: Take time each day to appreciate the good things in your life, big or small. Good gratitude will help give you a great attitude. It is your attitude that get’s you high on life … not your altitude.
• Savor the simple pleasures: Find joy in nature, music, art, or simply spending time with loved ones. I tell my relatives all the time that they must commit to making every family reunion possible (and we have them ever two years in a place where most would not travel too without a reason to go), because this is time we can never get back … important time.
• Be present: Put away distractions and focus on the moment. Listen actively, be mindful of your surroundings, and savor the experience. You can’t very well be mindful of your surroundings if you are trying to listen to your spouse or child or other relative or friend while checking your Facebook or Insta Gram account. Yes, you should look at these … but there is a time and place.

Remember, making the best of life is a continuous process, not a destination. There will be ups and downs, but the key is to keep moving forward, learning, and growing. Embrace the journey, celebrate your successes, and hold onto hope for a brighter future.

These are just a starting point. The most important thing is to listen to your inner voice, discover what truly matters to you, and live your life with authenticity and purpose. That inner voice, if you listen and pay attention to it, is nothing more than the angels telling you what you should be doing to make the best of life … LISTEN and LEARN!

I will close this article with a poem I came up with while writing it.

That’s it for today. Remember to Live life to the fullest. This means that you can’t row the boat without making waves and if you are not making waves, you are only drifting where the current takes you and you may not be happy with the ultimate destination.

Sincerely,

Jerry Nix | Freewavemaker, LLC