We live in a quantum mechanical universe. What this means is that the old Newtonian idea that humans beings are separate from the world, from our planet, even other living beings, has been challenged by the discoveries of quantum physics.

These discoveries show the interconnectedness of all organic and inorganic matter, and the phenomenon of interconnectedness has many different implications.

Given the interrelatedness of literally everything in the universe, there is no such thing as an independent human being who decides his or her own fate. Rather, human beings are, as the physicists would say, “multi-determined,” that is, acted on by many diverse and varied forces at all times.

How is this relevant to aging or being older, you ask? Well, take the idea of saving for retirement. There are all kinds of rational reasons why we should save and plan for our retirement, but although I am not suggesting that we forget about future planning, I would like to remind myself that the future is uncertain, at best.

Too many other forces are impinging on me on an everyday basis, so many events can occur and will shape my life regardless of my best plans for it. In other words, if I am planning my future at the expense of living in the present, I could be gambling my life away.

All the planning and preparation, from a quantum point of view, is quite silly given how uncertain and multi-determined our future really is. Would we really want to spend extra time working to save money for some future retirement fund at the expense of taking the kids to the ballgame, inviting the friend for dinner, taking the family on a weekend camping trip?

This idea has been powerfully expressed by an 85-year-old man who wanted to remain anonymous. He wrote:

If I had my life to live over again, I’d try to make more mistakes next time. I would try not to be so perfect. I’d relax more. I’d limber up. I’d be sillier than I have been on this trip. In fact, I know very few things I’d take so seriously. I’d be crazier. I’d be less hygienic. I’d take more chances. I’d take more trips. I’d climb more mountains. I’d swim more rivers. I’d watch more sunsets. I’d go more places I had never seen. I’d eat more real ice cream and fewer imaginary ones...

-Nader Shabahangi, Ph.D., is a psychotherapist for elders, CEO of AgeSong [1] and Founder of Pacific Institute [2].

Do you have a question for Nader? Write us [2].