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After dealing with a terminal illness in my family quite recently, I really have adopted the philosophy that sometimes, it's better not to know... I wonder what the practically immeasurable realized influence of contemplating one's life expectancy is on their actual life expectancy.

I'm going to take a walk outside today and try to think less about dark things.

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It probably depends on whether the contemplation triggers you into healthier lifestyle behaviors or triggers you into depression and self destruction.

I would hazard a guess that most people haven't developed their philosophy on life well enough to benefit from staring into the abyss. The catch-22 is that the only way to really get to that point is to spend some time wandering through the valley of the shadow of death. Personally, I think that sacrifice is worth it, because the only thing we are all obligated to do in life is die.

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