Today on MSN homepage there was an article. An article titled, "Single People May Die Younger, New Study Finds." Can you say, caught my attention? So I meandered on and read the article. It said things like, "this research shows 'just how poorly the single people do,' or 'worst case scenario." I learned that as a single female I have a 23% higher mortality rate than my married counterparts. This means I could die as many as 15 years earlier than than those other lucky in love chicks. What a lovely thought.
This paragraph caught my attention:
"So before all single ladies (and dudes) run screaming to the nearest justice of the peace to hook up, it's worth noting that, while the new research looked at mortality risk from a very large group, the study results are about “probabilities, not certainties,” says Roelfs. “The last thing we want is for some single person to say ‘Oh my God, I’m going to die young.’”
So this is only talking probability, not certainty? Wow, that makes me feel so much better. "Kelsy because you're a single female you just might die 15 years earlier than you might if you get married, but you know, it's not for certain, just maybe." Whew! Because that's SO much better. If this author really didn't want single people to think "I'm going to die young," you probably shouldn't have published the article. Does this person even know how the female mind works? My first thought when I read the title to the article was, "Oh crap."
As I read the article, my heart pounded and I scan my mind for single men I might know. Whoa. Can you believe I actually just went there? I can't believe that this is where our society is at these days, and I'm ashamed I even clicked on the article. The truth of the matter is we all live our lives and we may die tomorrow or in 50 years. We may marry, have children, and live very fulfilled lives. We may not marry, live a passionate life of gratitude, and be just as fulfilled.
As for me, I hope to live a long, gracious life, so yeah, I do want to get married (so I can tack a few years on my life, you know?), but that is something that is out of my hands. It's in the hands of my maker and until that time comes I'll try not to let the fear of dying young get the best of me.
1 comment:
Other risk factors of dying young: jumping out of an airplane without a parachute, stepping in front of a speeding bus and eating raw meat in a third world country. As you concluded, only God knows the number of our days and what they hold - so let's live the ones we have to the fullest (while still being smart)!!
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