Is society slowly killing the very people it is trying to protect?

It is a well-known fact that men typically die younger than women, and I have long attributed that situation to the fact that men simply give up.

After a lifetime of battling something nearly every moment of their lives, men simply become exhausted and decide that life on earth is too difficult to contend with any longer. They see no more reward or benefit, so they give up.

That’s even more true for men who are Christians and believe in the promised reward of heaven. Why would they want to spend one second longer on this dark, corrupt, greedy, evil, selfish planet if there was no reason to do so?

For years, men went to battle for their families, for their jobs, for their churches and for their communities every day. They feel compelled to “do something” all the time and, yet, are still under constant assault for not doing enough.

So, when they no longer have anything meaningful to do, they stop dreaming, stop planning, and stop hoping for a better tomorrow.

A life without purpose is not worth living. What’s the point?

Canceling joy

That’s especially true for people who live alone. There must be a reason for them to get up every morning.

As a resident of a large retirement community near Phoenix, I have to wonder if that’s a problem all sexes are beginning to face in light of the unrelenting COVID-19 restrictions.

All the community centers are closed, as are all the athletic facilities. The concerts, plays and other events that work to bring joy to people’s lives are all cancelled.

If society is going to lock people in their homes, for their own safety, of course, and dehumanize them behind masks whenever they do venture out, I’m wondering if we aren’t slowing killing seasoned citizens while trying to protect them.

Some people are perfectly content staying in their homes watching television and playing computer games all day, every day.  “It’s better than the alternative,” they’ll say.

Which alternative? Living a vibrant, active life or being dead?

Extroverts in trouble, too

I not only fear for seasoned citizens, but for extroverts of all ages.

While introverts get a lot of energy through isolation because being around people is emotionally and physically draining, extroverts are just the opposite. They need to be around people and engaging with them at some level to recharge their spirits.

Introverts thrive in a COVID environment. Extroverts, not so much.

They may not engage people in conversation all the time, but they still enjoy the company of others even if it means shopping for nothing as a reason to get out of the house.

Watch any group of young people sitting together. They all may be using their phones, but they are still drawing energy from each other and engaging at a soul level.

As the COVID restrictions plod along with no end in sight, I have to wonder if we’re encouraging some people to simply give up on life.

What’s a life without purpose?

Someone lacking purpose might not necessarily put a gun in his mouth, tie a rope around her neck or swallow a bunch of pills. But, people giving up can certainly stop taking necessary medication if they feel their lives have devolved to the point of just eating, sleeping or living for doctors’ appointments to keep them alive.

With more facts coming out every day about how mismanaged and politically-motivated government’s response was to COVID-19, perhaps it is time to address the elephant in the room and ask the tough question: Are the restrictions designed to save lives actually sucking the very life out of people the rules were meant to protect?

• People in nursing homes can’t have visitors – for their safety. So, they slowly die one lonely, neglected moment at a time.
• The same is true for people stuck in hospitals. They can’t have visitors either – for their safety – and must fight for their lives or recover from surgery by themselves with whatever internal energy they can muster.
• Grandparents can’t see their grandkids because people are afraid the children might pass on a “deadly” illness for which there is a 99.6% chance of full recovery, unless the person is in a nursing home or hospital with a pre-existing condition.
• Churches are shut down to prevent life-giving interactions.
• Schools are shut down to inhibit purpose-giving instruction.

All people are left with is a computer and a keyboard to give their lives purpose. Hello?

For seasoned citizens who want to make a difference and leave a legacy, being isolated deprives them of the one thing that gives their lives true meaning. They can’t have impact without contact.

How much socially-distanced golfing can they do and really impact the lives of others?

For men, especially, it’s a purpose-robbing Catch 22. Yes, the present situation is deadly, but not for the reasons being given.