Body or Mind?

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Lynx

Folksy yet erudite
Aug 13, 2014
27,701
9,629
113
#1
This is kind of a morbid topic, but it's a question I wound up giving a lot of thought: When you get old, which would you rather lose first? Your sound body or your sound mind? We all lose them eventually when we die, and (if we avoid accidents, fatal illnesses and the like and actually make it to the part where we can say we are old) we will probably lose one before the other. Which would you rather lose first?

This dark train of thought was started by observations from the nursing home where my aunt is an activities director, my own grandmother's slide into senility and a conversation in a chat room.

Please explain why you choose the one you choose, whether it's mind, body or "I'd rather just go out in a flash, like driving along real fast and hit a tree or something."
 

Lynx

Folksy yet erudite
Aug 13, 2014
27,701
9,629
113
#2
Me, I think I'd rather lose a sound body first. If I'm still able to think straight I can rationalize not being able to do what I used to. If I have a body in fairly good operating condition and a mind that won't work right any more it will be hard to rationalize my lack of ability with a brain that ain't too rational no more.
 

Lynx

Folksy yet erudite
Aug 13, 2014
27,701
9,629
113
#3
For those who thought they knew what the thread would be about when they read the title: No, this thread is NOT about which you are more attracted to in the opposite gender, intelligence or good looks. So there! :p
 

cinder

Senior Member
Mar 26, 2014
4,436
2,423
113
#4
Me, I think I'd rather lose a sound body first. If I'm still able to think straight I can rationalize not being able to do what I used to. If I have a body in fairly good operating condition and a mind that won't work right any more it will be hard to rationalize my lack of ability with a brain that ain't too rational no more.
I have to agree with you, but that might be because my mind has always been in better working condition than my body. Though I do hate the whole asking for help thing too.
 

Gideon300

Well-known member
Mar 18, 2021
5,439
3,218
113
#5
This is kind of a morbid topic, but it's a question I wound up giving a lot of thought: When you get old, which would you rather lose first? Your sound body or your sound mind? We all lose them eventually when we die, and (if we avoid accidents, fatal illnesses and the like and actually make it to the part where we can say we are old) we will probably lose one before the other. Which would you rather lose first?

This dark train of thought was started by observations from the nursing home where my aunt is an activities director, my own grandmother's slide into senility and a conversation in a chat room.

Please explain why you choose the one you choose, whether it's mind, body or "I'd rather just go out in a flash, like driving along real fast and hit a tree or something."
As a 70 year old, my body is not what it used to be but my mind is still good. I'd prefer my mind to be sound. I can think clearly enough to take care of my body. I have a friend showing possible signs of dementia. She does not eat properly and does not take good care of herself. It grieves me to see her this way.

I don't believe that Christians should expect physical or mental deterioration. I can still do most things that I did ten years ago, just slower and I don't recover as quickly. I've not been as active as I could have been. I bought a bike recently to get some exercise and get away from the computer!
 

oyster67

Senior Member
May 24, 2014
11,887
8,705
113
#6
Please explain why you choose the one you choose, whether it's mind, body or "I'd rather just go out in a flash, like driving along real fast and hit a tree or something."
I always thought it would be nice to go out in a flash or in a middle-of-the-night zzzz, but alas, it was not meant to be. I have lost both at this point, but it's not really that bad. Jesus still loves me, and you guys actually seem to enjoy my dumb jokes.:giggle:

I used to visit my 100 year old great aunt in a nursing home. She would begin telling me a story... then pause... then say something like "I have no idea where I am going with this." We would then both crack up laughing. She was a salty old oysterette, but she knew where she was going and anticipated getting there with great joy. Being a Christian makes all the difference in the end.

Luke
12:32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
12:33 Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.
12:34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
 

oyster67

Senior Member
May 24, 2014
11,887
8,705
113
#7
Though I do hate the whole asking for help thing too.
Amen on that.

I like the thoughts about love on your sig. line...

When you do love a thing, its gladness is a reason for loving it, and its sadness a reason for loving it more. - GK Chesterton

The true definition of love is sacrifice.
 

Kireina

Well-known member
Aug 26, 2020
1,483
1,405
113
#8
Hmmm...that is quite a hard question but I'd choose mind....it is because I have witnessed Old people in pain that they'd rather die at the moment than to experience so much pain....

And also I experienced pain so much pain once few mos. ago that I wished just to disappear instantly than to experience that kind of pain....


You know when we get old...as in old old old....our body starts to give in we will experience pain here and there imagining myself experiencing that, is quite hard...


I pray that no old people will experience pain but that is quite an old people thing...:(
 

phil36

Senior Member
Feb 12, 2009
8,345
2,159
113
#9
This is kind of a morbid topic, but it's a question I wound up giving a lot of thought: When you get old, which would you rather lose first? Your sound body or your sound mind? We all lose them eventually when we die, and (if we avoid accidents, fatal illnesses and the like and actually make it to the part where we can say we are old) we will probably lose one before the other. Which would you rather lose first?

This dark train of thought was started by observations from the nursing home where my aunt is an activities director, my own grandmother's slide into senility and a conversation in a chat room.

Please explain why you choose the one you choose, whether it's mind, body or "I'd rather just go out in a flash, like driving along real fast and hit a tree or something."

I think I'll have to agree with most so far and that is to keep my mind :). But Kireina, brings up a valid point. So with a bit more thought, I would say I would like to keep my mind, as long as we have modern pain relief for weakening bodies. I also experienced severe pain last summer and all I can say is thank the Lord for Morphine lol, as soon as the nurse gave me the dose it was instant relief :) .

All my grandparents are gone now, but they all had their faculties about them, but two of them went very quick, two of them suffered physical ailments which I am sure wasn't very pleasant.

So if I had the choice I would like to keep my mind and go very quickly ;). I like the scripture Oyster gave ''Fear not little flock''.
 

Kireina

Well-known member
Aug 26, 2020
1,483
1,405
113
#10
I think I'll have to agree with most so far and that is to keep my mind :). But Kireina, brings up a valid point. So with a bit more thought, I would say I would like to keep my mind, as long as we have modern pain relief for weakening bodies. I also experienced severe pain last summer and all I can say is thank the Lord for Morphine lol, as soon as the nurse gave me the dose it was instant relief :) .

All my grandparents are gone now, but they all had their faculties about them, but two of them went very quick, two of them suffered physical ailments which I am sure wasn't very pleasant.

So if I had the choice I would like to keep my mind and go very quickly ;). I like the scripture Oyster gave ''Fear not little flock''.
I am sorry to hear what you've been through...I understand you...My experience in taking care of an old person...if I am not mistaken...morphine is used/given when the pain is unbearable like if you have cancer...😞 Arebubok now?
 

phil36

Senior Member
Feb 12, 2009
8,345
2,159
113
#11
I am sorry to hear what you've been through...I understand you...My experience in taking care of an old person...if I am not mistaken...morphine is used/given when the pain is unbearable like if you have cancer...😞 Arebubok now?


Yes i'm Ok now, thanks for concern. I wasn't in hospital for anything as serious as cancer.

It was a flare up of crohns and at the same time Gall stones. The Morphine was only while I was in A & E (Accident and emergency). Once I got moved to a hospital room/bed, then they went into treatment mode, using different pain management. (y)

So now the gall stones are gone and crohns under control. God is Good.
 

Kireina

Well-known member
Aug 26, 2020
1,483
1,405
113
#12
I always thought it would be nice to go out in a flash or in a middle-of-the-night zzzz, but alas, it was not meant to be. I have lost both at this point, but it's not really that bad. Jesus still loves me, and you guys actually seem to enjoy my dumb jokes.:giggle:

I used to visit my 100 year old great aunt in a nursing home. She would begin telling me a story... then pause... then say something like "I have no idea where I am going with this." We would then both crack up laughing. She was a salty old oysterette, but she knew where she was going and anticipated getting there with great joy. Being a Christian makes all the difference in the end.

Luke
12:32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
12:33 Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.
12:34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Lol i laugh so hard with that oysterrete thing and the salty old lady 😂 I took care of an almost a 100-year old grandma 9O+ she was a salty old lady also but i loved her 😆
 

Kireina

Well-known member
Aug 26, 2020
1,483
1,405
113
#13
Yes i'm Ok now, thanks for concern. I wasn't in hospital for anything as serious as cancer.

It was a flare up of crohns and at the same time Gall stones. The Morphine was only while I was in A & E (Accident and emergency). Once I got moved to a hospital room/bed, then they went into treatment mode, using different pain management. (y)

So now the gall stones are gone and crohns under control. God is Good.
Praise God 😇🤗


I am glad yay! that you are fine now 🤗 I understand them...because not only that i went through the same I've worked with people who went through so much pain ... I wish no one will experience pain 🙁


God is good! Amen to that 😇
 

Lynx

Folksy yet erudite
Aug 13, 2014
27,701
9,629
113
#14
Hmmm...that is quite a hard question but I'd choose mind....it is because I have witnessed Old people in pain that they'd rather die at the moment than to experience so much pain....

And also I experienced pain so much pain once few mos. ago that I wished just to disappear instantly than to experience that kind of pain....


You know when we get old...as in old old old....our body starts to give in we will experience pain here and there imagining myself experiencing that, is quite hard...


I pray that no old people will experience pain but that is quite an old people thing...:(
Well yeah... I was thinking more about the "I can't do what I used to be able to do" aspect, but I hear there is some pain involved with getting old. Not looking forward to that either.

But I figure I'll be hurting whether my body loses function first or my mind.
 
Nov 26, 2012
3,095
1,050
113
#15
I have no real passion for life. I believe the Lord has me here (Earth) to serve others. When I no longer feel of service I will probably just say my goodbyes then one day decide to not get out of bed until the Lord calls me. I have little desire for life now as a fully competent tradesman, athlete and leader. I can only imagine that desire will deteriorate with function.
 

oyster67

Senior Member
May 24, 2014
11,887
8,705
113
#16
My Aunty was of the mind that, "what good is life if you can no longer bake cookies for the grandkids?" She decided that she would go to 100 just to say that she did. Thus she lived to 100 and then seemed to just "give up the ghost." I personally thought she was fairly sharp at the end, but everybody else said she was 'nutso'. They told me that she was very sober and austere in her youth and that her laughter was due to senility. I hope that, in Heaven, she will "have it all" - bake cookies and laugh at the same time.:):coffee:
 

Dino246

Senior Member
Jun 30, 2015
25,599
13,861
113
#17
My parents are in their late 80's. Mom is sharp mentally, and always has been, but she is physically very limited due to both injuries and illnesses (yes, plural). Dad is physically fine, though he has realized he's not 30 anymore, but he is showing clear signs of mental decline.

So, which would I choose?

What's behind door #3?