Is it better to burn out or fade away?

As long as the end of my life is painless and I'm not a burden to anyone I don't have to go out in a blaze of glory.
I've accomplished many things on my bucket list so as long as the last few years of my life are comfortable just sitting in my recliner reading, painting ,sewing, taking walks, or whatever is fine with me.
I don't need to be the 90 year old grannie who rock climbed or ran a 30 mile marathon.
 
jujube said:
I want to go out in a blaze of glory, cocktail in one hand, waving to everyone with the other.....yelling "WOO-HOO, WHATTA RIDE!!!"
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My brother in law used to repeat the mantra "Work hard, Play hard", but the "Play hard" bit lead to his early death unfortunately, so "be careful what you wish for", as they say.

I suppose too, its as well not to die wondering what you might have done or achieved, so don't be too bashful. :)
 
I've kept a pretty low profile my entire life, so the question really doesn't apply to me, personally. I've never blazed brightly, so to speak. I've experienced a lot of things—perhaps even more than a lot of people. I've traveled a bit, lived in four different parts of the country, went to college, played music in front of audiences, and some other things, but I'm an introvert. I avoid the spotlight like the plague.

A lot of musicians from the '60s and '70s burned out—several of them, strangely enough, at the age of 27—from drugs. I watched a documentary about Johnny Winter last night and he burned out badly in the '90s due to prescription drugs, which he never should have been prescribed. When he finally got off them, he came back pretty strong but died from pneumonia and and emphysema while on tour in Europe. He just kind of crashed at the end.

And a lot of those musicians simply faded away due to changes in the public's musical tastes and age. We're all getting old. Many of them are in their '70s. Yikes!
 
Dylan Thomas poem:

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.

Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieve it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

------------------------------------------------------
His poem feels emotionally powerful and the images it brings up/creates could be a decision maker I suppose.
 
As Faron Young sang it:


I want to live fast, love hard, die young, and leave a beautiful memory
I want to live fast, love hard, die young, and leave a beautiful memory
Don't want slow walkin' or sad singin' let 'em have a jubilee
I want to leave a lot of happy women a thinking pretty thoughts of me
I want to live fast, love hard, die young, and leave a beautiful memory

I got a hot-rod car and a cowboy suit and I really do get around
I got a little black book and the gals look cute and I know the name of every spot in town
I want to find 'em, fool 'em, leave 'em, and let 'em do the same to me
I want to live fast, love hard, die young, and leave a beautiful memory

I want to live fast, love hard, die young, and leave a beautiful memory
I'm a wampus cat let me grab my hat and baby come along with me
We're gonna do some fancy stepping, we're really goin' on a spree
I want to live fast, love hard, die young, and leave a beautiful memory

Now you may not approve of the things I do but it really don't bother me
But don't ever think you gonna tie me down I'm gonna stay footloose fancy free
So jump back, make tracks, move out, and let the pretty gals at me
I want to live fast, love hard. die young and leave a beautiful memory
 
A man had just received the bad news that he had three months to live.

In tears, he said to his wife, "Honey, I want you to call your mother and ask her to come live with us now."

"Oh, how wonderful! I always thought you hated my mother and never wanted to be around her. What made you change your mind?"

"Well, I have only three months left. Three months around her is gonna feel like a year!"
 
NO to this...

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YES to this

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