Immortality--living beyond your natural life.

Many people have wished for immortality, but there are more definitions beyond the typically thought of never ending life. Your name and lineage can extend into time. Your physical creations may survive for ages--buildings, paintings, sculptures, and so on. Ideas far outlast the people who dream them up. There's an interesting dialogue in the movie, "Troy," where Achilles is speaking about being remembered for great deeds and how that is true immortality. He makes a good point.

Plitvice Lakes National Park

 Why do we have such a deep desire to live forever? Maybe it's because we realize life is short and uncertain. We want to stave off death. We're afraid to face our own ending? I think it's not so simple, though. I think we hope we are remembered beyond our meager lives. We want a legacy that outlasts us. Like Achilles, we want people to talk about us far into the future. We want to make an impact on the world we inhabit.

There are legends and myths about objects which can grant eternal life, heal incurable wounds, and bring to life the dying. People have spent their entire lives searching for these things. Despite the lack of success, more will continue to look. I wonder what would happen if such an item were actually found? How would the world change? Who would have access to it? Would the world know, or keep it a secret? Could everyone have a drink from the Fountain of Youth?

- M