Suggestion: "Deterioration" is Evolution's Solution

Why do Homo-Sapiens start to deteriorate so early?

I started my bachelor's degree in accounting at the age of 23. Although I was one of the older students in the course, I was not the oldest. There was also a (+)50-year-old man. He fit in with no difficulties, but I often wondered why he decided to take on such an exhausting task since, by the time he finished his studies and his internship, he would barely have time to work and benefit from his degree.

We have expectations regarding what is considered proper for every age group; however, when social codes are challenged, we can become extremely puzzled were the expectations correct, or do they need to be redefined we are left guessing.?

The incident of the mature student in my university course is just one example of abnormal behavior in relation to age-appropriate activities.

Humans’ maturing compared to Dog’s maturing

I am not an expert, nor do I have much knowledge about dogs, but according to the American Kennel Club (AKC), it is estimated that small dog breeds live between 10-15 years, while the extra-large breeds live only 8-10 years.

The AKC claims that dogs reach adulthood at 12-18 months. They are considered to start "aging" between 6-10 years of age (6 years for the XXL breeds and 10 years for the XS breeds).

Why is this information important? Well, if we look at how dog development is distributed (from the percentage aspect as displayed in the following chart), and compare it to humans' destiny, we might conclude that our best friends get the better deal.

Using rough numbers (the data referring to humans is based on the U.S. Trust Insights on Wealth and Worth 2017, while the information on dogs is based on the AKC article from 2019- How to Calculate Dog Years to Human Years)

The data above reveal two interesting points. First, dogs reach physical maturity almost two times quicker than humans (from a percentage aspect). Second, dogs maintain their physical peak almost two times longer than humans do.

Why can’t we be like dogs? Why didn’t human evolution develop like the development of dogs? Don’t start chewing bones, sleeping in kennels, or trying to catch your behind. I don't think this will improve life quality. (And imitating other things dogs do will probably just get you locked up behind prison bars).

I would like to suggest that humans need to have a different ratio of prime physical years than those of other mammals. As a result, earlier physical deterioration is a necessity. Being aware of this fact is key to constructing wonderful midlife.

Humans’ unique maturing needs

I wish to offer an approach that, unlike dogs whose accomplishments are in the present without future expectations, humans' development is geared towards achieving future benefits. While developing into adults, we often postpone satisfying our immediate desires to gain future benefits. Therefore, we devote years to studying, crafting a profession, earning a license, or mastering a skill. We invest hard-earned resources or take up huge debts so we can achieve our vision for tomorrow.

Our journey from childhood to adulthood is an exercise in discipline with the goal of developing the ability to sacrifice current, minor goals for future major ambitions.

Young adulthood is the proper period to apply this skill of investing today with the intention of cultivating tomorrow. But for how long does one aim for tomorrow at the expanse of today.

Evolution directs us towards this answer—we will continue ignoring the frightening fact of our demise and continue investing as if the end will never come. We will go on and on until our body and memory will start to signal to us to "slow down", stop accumulating, and start applying.

Midlife is the time of life when creative and strategic outcomes are at their peak maturity. This is the time is when the tendency to apply balanced judgment and the ability to analyze and be patient with complex situations reaches the point of prime potential.

Thanks to evolution, Midlife is the time of life when maturity, creative and strategic outcomes are at their peak. It is when the tendency to apply balanced judgment and the ability to analyze and be patient with complex situations reaches the point of prime potential. Because this is when all the fruits of our labors during young adulthood come together to be efficiently applied and utilized.

I wish to suggest that the Homo-Sapiens’ evolution enforced deterioration to assure that all the resources accumulated when at our best, both physically and mentally, will be applied during the years that human beings are still very productive and have the best skillsets to wisely use all their talents and experiences.