“Not YET!”
by Stephen Doherty
July 12th, 2026
“Do not go gentle into that good night. Old age should burn and rave
at close of day; Rage, RAGE against the dying of the light.” -Dylan Thomas
I turned 70 and retired in December. Everything that remains in front of me is secondary to being able to enjoy what’s left to the MAX! The one inevitable fact of life – is death. None of us can escape that reality. However, because of the times we live in, we have more agency over the quality and enjoyment of our lives than ever before.
For most of human history, growing old was something that simply happened. You slowed down. You weakened. You gained weight, lost muscle, slept poorly, developed aches and pains, and watched your energy gradually disappear. Disease arrived. Frailty followed. And eventually, the Grim Reaper came knocking. There wasn’t much of a playbook. Until now.
Perhaps no generation in history has entered its later years with more information, more tools, and more opportunity to influence how those years will actually be lived. We understand more about the human body than our parents or grandparents could have imagined. We know that aging is inevitable—but the rate and experience of decline are far more negotiable than we once believed.
We know that muscle matters. Strength matters. Cardiovascular fitness matters. Balance, mobility, and metabolic health matter. We understand the importance of protein, resistance training, aerobic conditioning, sleep, stress management, and maintaining a healthy body composition.
We can now measure things previous generations never knew existed. Blood pressure. ApoB. Blood glucose. VO₂ max. Bone density. Muscle mass. Sleep quality. Heart-rate variability. Hormones. Nutritional deficiencies. Genetic predispositions. We have continuous glucose monitors, fitness trackers, smart watches, DEXA scans, advanced blood testing, sophisticated imaging, and an ever-expanding understanding of the biological mechanisms of aging.
Then there are supplements and pharmaceuticals—some proven, some promising, and some undoubtedly overhyped. We have medications that can dramatically reduce cardiovascular risk, control blood pressure, manage diabetes, preserve bone, and treat diseases that were once accepted as unavoidable consequences of getting older.
You Get To Choose
Longevity does not have to become a religion. You do not have to track every calorie, swallow forty supplements, sleep in a temperature-controlled pod, wear five biometric devices, or organize your entire existence around squeezing another three months from the actuarial tables. BUT – neither do you have to meekly surrender to decline.
There is an enormous landscape between obsession and indifference—and each of us gets to decide where we want to live within that framework. Maybe your goal is simply to walk without pain and play with your grandchildren. Maybe you want to travel the world at eighty. Maybe you want to lift weights, ride motorcycles, climb mountains, play golf, run races, start businesses, write books, or remain fiercely independent into your nineties.
Your version of longevity does not have to resemble anyone else’s. It is YOURS to decide! The question is not whether you are willing to do everything. The question is simply, what ARE you willing to do to live the life you’ve envisioned?
There are no guarantees. The healthiest person in the room can still receive terrible news tomorrow. Longevity science cannot promise immortality, and no collection of supplements, workouts, pharmaceuticals, or perfect biomarkers can defeat death forever. The Grim Reaper remains undefeated. But perhaps … that is the wrong contest.
Your goal should not be to live forever. Your goal is to use the extraordinary knowledge available to us today to improve the odds that the years we do have are stronger, healthier, more independent, more adventurous, and more fully alive.
And when the Grim Reaper finally comes knocking? Maybe we cannot say “Never.” But with a little knowledge, effort, discipline—and perhaps a bit of luck—we might just look him squarely in the eye and say: “Not YET!”
Never knock on death’s door … Ring the doorbell then run.
He totally hates that! -Darynda Jones
