No, I don’t want to live forever

Venice Beach, Los Angeles

I arrived about 10 minutes early to the startup wellness event. As I helped set up the tables stacked with raw food bars and “clean” energy drinks — each claiming to improve my existence if I could afford their secret ingredients — I couldn’t help but smile. Yoga mats were being placed in neat rows, and a music therapist was arranging their Tibetan bowls, ready to create an atmosphere of calm. This was peak Venice Beach.

I was attending the event as a moderator, tasked with connecting entrepreneurs to LA’s startup ecosystem. Over the years, I’ve worked with founders from a wide range of industries, but there’s something distinct about the wellness scene here in LA. It’s a beguiling mix of Hollywood doublespeak, influencer showmanship, and a seemingly unshakeable belief that we can live forever if we just find the right products.

Today’s buzzwords were no surprise: “healthspan,” “lifespan,” “longevity” — all terms that promise eternal youth through supplements, nutraceuticals, and biohacks. Don’t get me wrong, there’s a place for these products, but as I listened to the pitches, I couldn’t help but wonder: what if the energy and innovation these founders pour into extending our time on Earth were instead spent, well, repairing the Earth?

Longevity vs. Planetary Health

This brings me to a term that’s been on my mind lately — planetary health. It’s a concept that recognizes the deep connection between the health of humans and the health of the planet. Oddly enough, it never seems to come up when founders boast about their new wellness routines or products. Sure, longevity is critical, but what happens if we live longer lives, only to inhabit a dying planet?

It’s easy to get swept up in the idea of living to 120, but what’s the point if our quality of life — and the planet’s — has deteriorated? We could be sprightly centenarians, but if we’re living on a scorched Earth, what then? And please, don’t say we’ll just move to Mars.

Wellness for the Privileged

One thing I’ve noticed is that the wellness industry is incredibly privileged. It caters to people who have the time and money to focus on living longer, often disconnected from the daily struggles of those who can barely afford to live well in the present. At the event, I saw a table offering a $15 adaptogen pancake mix that increased memory and focus. Meanwhile, across town, there were families who don’t have access to fresh produce, let alone niche supplements.

This divide is particularly glaring in our food system. It’s easy for those of us who have access to farmers’ markets and local, organic produce to judge families for eating processed foods. But many people live in food deserts, where healthy options are scarce, and they are often subject to the social determinants of health that perpetuate chronic conditions like obesity. The irony of Ozempic — a drug for weight loss — being just a credit card purchase away for the wealthy while others struggle to afford basic groceries isn’t lost on me.

Rethinking Wellness

If wellness entrepreneurs truly care about wellness, their vision should extend beyond the boundaries of their social media feeds. Wellness should be about more than just individual longevity; it should encompass the well-being of our communities and our planet. Why focus on living forever if we’re not also investing in the health of the world around us?

Take the idea of planetary health, for example. If these entrepreneurs could integrate sustainable practices into their supply chains — whether through reducing carbon footprints or supporting regenerative agriculture — the wellness products themselves could contribute to a healthier planet. But I rarely hear these conversations happening at events like this one.

Instead, there’s a fixation on individual survival, as if we could somehow escape the broader problems by prolonging our own lives. But longevity in a vacuum is a fool’s errand. We’re deluding ourselves if we think we can thrive while the Earth and our communities crumble.

In the end, I don’t want to live forever if it means living on a dead planet. Wellness isn’t just about how long we live; it’s about how well we live — and that includes the world we leave behind. After all, isn’t true wellness about balance?

Ari Mostov is a narrative strategist. She works with innovators to craft irresistible futures. Learn more: www.wellplay.world