Life Span, Health Span, and Humanity Span: A New Perspective on Aging [4 minute read]

PROCLAIMER:

A proclaimer is the positive counterpart to a disclaimer. While a disclaimer seeks to deny or limit responsibility, a proclaimer affirms confidentiality, responsibility, ownership, and purpose.

I am responsible for the distinction, Humanity Span. I genuinely believe it will make a profound difference in improving late aging.

SPAN DEFINED

As a noun, span refers to the full extent, reach, or duration of something. It describes a measurable distance, length of time, or range.

In all these cases, a span indicates a measurable stretch through time, space, and conceptual range.

Humanity Span fits these requirements. It occurs over time. It can be gauged. It demonstrates changes in how one ages, particularly late aging.?

HUMANITY DEFINED

Humanity refers to the collective existence of all human beings and the qualities that define and connect us as a species.

Humanity encompasses the shared experiences, values, and conditions that bind us, such as compassion, empathy, intelligence, creativity, and the capacity for love and understanding (A)

Humanity also encompasses indifference, apathy, stupidity, hatred, and misunderstanding (B).

The Humanity Span goes from (B) to (A).

Humanity Span fits these requirements. It occurs over time. It can be gauged. It demonstrates changes in how one ages, particularly late aging. ?

WHY HUMANITY SPAN

In my time operating in the longevity industry, most focus on two key concepts: Life span and health span. While Life Span measures how long we live and Health Span measures how long we live in good health, another dimension I title the Humanity Span deserves equal attention. Maybe more attention.

I contend the depth and breadth in which you expand your humanity, what it really means to be human, the longer and healthier you will age.

Furthermore, the more enhanced the Humanity Span, the more able you will be to contribute to society, express creativity, and live with purpose, empathy, and connection.

The Humanity Span is that portion of your life that is not directly about being physically alive or medically healthy. It is about your emotional, intellectual, and spiritual health.

ELEMENTS OF THE HUMANITY SPAN

An essential part of the Humanity Span is understanding your collective characteristics, which you have in common with all other human beings.

People are people, and you're one of them.

As a human, you have all those inherent characteristics that exist in everyone: love, hate, jealousy, envy, suffering, grief, etc. They exist in all but manifest differently in each.

The better you recognize your humanness, the more you will be able to accept others. The more you accept your humanness, the more you will be able to forgive yourself, and the more you will be able to forgive others.

The Humanity Span is where you develop and grow your capacity for sympathy, compassion, wisdom, ethical living, and a connection to the larger human experience. This growth is not limited by age but can be maximized in late age. ?

Humanity Span is expanded by the time spent applying awareness, mindfulness, and consciousness to one's life as lived.?

This heightened awareness goes beyond everyday thinking and behavior, delivering insights into the nature of reality, the self, and your existence.

EXPANDING YOUR HUMANITY SPAN

Increasing your Humanity Span is an intentional and active pursuit that requires wisdom, empathy, and conscious living. It requires deliberate effort to deepen your connection with yourself, others, and the wider human experience.

In our work, we use reflection, contemplation, meditation, Socratic inquiry, and learning from other members to extend, expand, and increase our Humanity Span.

Expanding your Humanity Span is one of the best ways to live with and inside greater meaning, purpose, fulfillment, and higher wisdom.

CONCLUSION

An isosceles triangle consists of?two equal sides called "legs," a third unequal side called the "base," and a "vertex angle" formed by the two legs;?the angles opposite the equal sides are called "base angles," which are always equal to each other.

It's simple: as the base expands, so do the legs to keep the angles consistent.

Creating a new distinction, something that didn't exist before, is exciting. It always begins like this: an idea that explains a new way to see something that has always been there. A concept that illuminates. A new way of understanding that clarifies.

For me, it clarified the mission of Contemporary Elders: to guide others, enable them to expand further and deeper in their humanity, and elevate their collective human experience.

So, as modern medicine and greater knowledge expand the Life Span and Health Span, it is best to consider how to expand the Humanity Span.

Question: Where do you need to extend your Humanity Span?

ANNOUNCEMENTS & ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

To date, the book has delivered on its intention.?

1)? The book is a solid seller.

2)? Invitations to tenured podcasters with a strong repeat audience.?

3)? Requests to be a Key Note speaker.

4)? Allowing a listening of peers in the longevity industry.? The book helped me “earn my stripes.”

5)? The satisfaction of working with a committed team, publisher, editor, PR, agent, social media that is having the mission be realized.??

Older to elder.? Age to sage. Grievance to grace.? Isolation to inclusion. Unwelcomed to welcomed.? Fear to equanimity. Alone to alive. Ignorance to wisdom.

Purchase the book HERE.

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