How Long Would I Like to Live?

How Long Would I Like to Live?
If someone asks me how long I would like to live, I usually answer without much thought: "About as long as the average life expectancy."
It seems like a reasonable goal.
If I were to leave around that time, it might feel a little less unfair, and perhaps easier to accept. The average life expectancy for Korean women is now about 87.5 years old, so according to the statistics, I still have quite a few years left.
Of course, that answer comes with one very important condition: good health.
Today, I attended the funeral of my sister-in-law, who passed away at the age of 77.
She lived a good life and was loved by many people. Because she left relatively early, her family shed many tears.
Yet I know that, after a while, life will quietly return to normal.
The remaining family members will laugh together again and continue living their own lives.
Interestingly, funerals for people who pass away in their nineties often look quite different.
There are usually fewer tears and more acceptance. Moments like that make me reflect on the meaning of family ties and human relationships.
Recently, my younger sister, who is seven years younger than I am, told me something that caught my attention.
She has spent her entire life working hard, overcoming challenges, earning a Ph.D., building a successful career, and accomplishing many of her goals.
Yet now, as retirement approaches, she says she suddenly feels confused about her identity and the meaning of life.
For the first time, she has lifted her head from the race and looked at the bigger picture.
Perhaps from the Creator's point of view, we humans are not so different from ants chasing a few grains of sugar.
We hurry, struggle, compete, and dream, believing that what lies directly in front of us is everything.
Some people realize this early.
Others realize it much later. Either way, we eventually face the same truth: our time here is limited, and there is no choice but to accept that reality.
Compared with the age of the universe, a human life lasts only the blink of an eye.
Yet that brief moment is all we are given.

Still, there are a few remarkable people who show us the beauty of growing old.
Professor Kim Hyung-seok is one such example.
At 106, he continues to share thoughtful advice that helps younger generations navigate life.
Because very few people experience such exceptional longevity, his insights into aging and the later stages of life are especially precious.
His life demonstrates that old age can be more than a period of decline—it can also be a time of wisdom, contribution, and inspiration.

Since it is our entire share of existence, I intend to live it as fully as I can.
After all, if I waste it by living carelessly, the ending would feel far more empty.
And yes—health remains my number one priority.