Mortality has motivational properties. Life becomes more precious as we near the end of it. We have to decide which activities are worth pursuing and which ones should be forsaken. One thing seems certain – I won’t stop writing!
According to Chris Jordan, a New Jersey shore native who writes about music and entertainment, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band performed “like their lives depended on it” when they kicked off their 2023 tour in Tampa, Florida, in early February. The tour kept the 73-year-old Springsteen on the road for six months, playing more than 60 concerts, proving that mortality can be a motivating force resulting in increased productivity while also dismantling the myth that productivity decreases with age.
Not that “The Boss” is in imminent danger of dying. He seems quite fit, playing high-octane concerts lasting almost three hours. But considering that hardly a week goes by without news of the death of a rock star, when Springsteen plays a stripped-down version of “Last Man Standing” from his 2020 album, Letter to You, you begin to understand why death is on Springsteen’s mind.
“Last Man Standing” is a reference to Springsteen, the last surviving member of his first group, The Castiles. Following the 2018 death of his Castiles bandmate George Theiss, Springsteen told Rolling Stone that Theiss’ death sparked deep reflections on mortality and spurred him to write many of the tunes on Letter to You.
Springsteen said to the concert-goers in Tampa: “[Mortality] brings a clarity of thought and a purpose that you might have not previously experienced. At 15, it’s all tomorrows. At 73, it’s a lot of goodbyes. That’s why you have to make the most of right now.” Springsteen replayed the song and the story in each of his 60+ concerts.
You don’t have to be a baby boomer to relate to what Springsteen is saying, although boomers comprise 21.6% of the U.S. population, and they are the main age group attending his concerts, including his long run on Broadway. Baby boomers are now (in 2023) between 59 and 77 years of age. About one-third of baby boomers have died. The “last man standing” of that generation will be gone by about 2086. What boomer doesn’t have death on their mind?
Contemplating death is not necessarily bad. According to psychologist Steve Taylor, being more aware of your own mortality can be a positive development. He came to this conclusion while working on his book Out of the Darkness and after interviewing individuals with terminal illnesses, as well as people who have had near-death experiences, such as those who had a heart attack or almost drowned.
Taylor wrote: “Facing death had taught them that the future and the past are unimportant, and that life only ever takes place in the present moment…. Becoming aware of our own mortality can be a liberating and awakening experience, which can — paradoxically, it might seem — encourage us to live authentically and fully for the first time.”
Mortality and Productivity
There are many great books about death and dying, such as Being Mortal and With the End in Mind. They describe how we should treat dying loved ones: gently, with dignity, compassion, forethought, and preparation. This message should never be lost upon us. However, I’m equally impressed by the notion that the sudden realization that our time on earth is limited not only instructs us to live in the moment, but it also seems to enhance our productivity. And since physical activity improves virtually every health outcome, it offers the option of a longer, healthier life.
Springsteen isn’t the only musician who understands that facing mortality may increase productivity. Country singer Willie Nelson commemorated turning 90 by winning a Grammy, hitting the road, and releasing another top-quality record (I Don’t Know A Thing About Love) — his 15th album in the past decade. Likewise, David Crosby lived to 81, and his final decade was his most productive.
In South Korea, some companies are using mock funerals as a way to combat employee depression and increase productivity. (South Korea has consistently had one of the highest suicide rates in the world.) After the employees emerge from wooden coffins in their pretend funerals, they allegedly have a better outlook on life and work, now that they have glimpsed the alternative.
I’m reminded of the relationship between mortality and productivity whenever I encounter people who have a “bucket list” — a list of activities to do before “kicking the bucket.” People on a mission to complete their bucket list are not necessarily terminally ill; a sizable percentage simply realize time is precious and they had better get moving.
Weighing Priorities
I turned 69 in January 2023. I’m in relatively good health, and statistically my life expectancy is 84. A couple of years ago, I began to feel pressure (entirely self-imposed) to produce and accomplish more things. In lieu of a bucket list, I began to carefully weigh my priorities. I became more cognizant of my decisions. I knew that my choices mattered now more than ever. I banished certain activities I considered futile or non-essential, such as collecting CDs and wine. I stored my music digitally, stopped drinking alcohol, and sold my wine collection.
Aging reminds us that there is an opportunity cost to transactions. The upside is the ability to pursue things that truly inspire us — in my case, writing. I feel engaged and my mind is active when I write. With aging also comes the reality that I’m less mobile; fortunately, writing is a sedentary activity. Still, I am able to travel to see my children and grandchildren, including two trips to Hawaii each year. Family relationships top the bucket list for the majority of baby boomers.
In 2012, The Rolling Stones named their tour 50 & Counting, which was not an exaggeration, considering “The World’s Greatest Rock and Roll Band” is still going strong even after weathering the loss of drummer Charlie Watts. So, above all, I ask that the good Lord continues to “shine a light” on me. And now that I’m a half-decade past 64, I also ask that people still need me and feed me.
Excerpted from Every Story Counts: Exploring Contemporary Practice Through Narrative Medicine by Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA, CPE, DFAAPL (American Association for Physician Leadership, 2023).