The correlation between those who appear to have had the majority of events in their lives go in their favour yet die young, and those who are forced to struggle for their entire interminable lives, while foggy, I believe is a real thing.
This week’s Theory therefore pertains to a fact of life that I have been observing for some years and which – some call it fate, some might say luck, others maintain it’s the Universe in control – while failing to produce anything close to a consistent outcome does demonstrate an interesting pattern.
I have known a great many people who – good at sports, good at school, good at life in general – in the eyes of others, although short of causing resentment, had a presence that was envied, admired and even revered; I have then observed a number of these people, for one reason or another, arguably before their time, fall.
To witness the demise of someone who has always been the victor of life’s challenges, in a heartless world, might evoke feelings of hollow retribution; a cynic might even believe it was an example of the Universe evening the balance.
Statistically people who race through life with fearless abandon, seizing every opportunity, taking from the world what they want and usually succeeding in their efforts, while certainly enjoying life more than their introverted counterparts, often lead shorter lives than those counterparts leading to the question: is it their reckless manners of living that do them in before their time; does their demise have to do with personal living circumstances, or is it fate?
Of course if it came to a debate on living-style preference there would assuredly be more votes for ‘quality’ than there would for ‘quantity’ – after all what good is quantity without quality?
Some fatalists maintain that once one has had their quota of luck that’s it, there is no more to be had. Some fatalists maintain that to pack into life too much enjoyment too early on will invariably kill a person young (which is curious because doctors also believe the rock star lifestyle of sex, drugs and unadulterated hedonism is conducive to early death, but then that might be for other reasons). Many fatalists maintain ultimately, the higher the concentration of good times, the shorter the lifespan.
One need only direct their mind to the infamous ’27 Club’ including the likes of Hendrix, Cobain, Joplin, Morrison, and Winehouse, to conclude that fate isn’t so much on the side of musician-based hedonism.
In fact the 27 Club spans a number of decades and comprises over 100 musicians which although at first glance might appear sad, one can be easily mitigate that despair with the fact that this bunch of defeated 27-year-olds will have packed into their curtailed lives more enjoyment, more good times than many 80-year-olds could ever dream to have experienced.
As mentioned this theory is far from precise in its measurements – fair to say Hugh Hefner would have experienced well above his quota of joy by age 40, along with others – which is why I use words such as ‘generally’, ‘statistically’, ‘reportedly’, ‘allegedly’, ‘tend to’ and ‘sources maintain’; nevertheless as I write this piece I can’t help thinking of the face that actually inspired this Theory.
Dean Jared Carroll, born 22nd January, 1982. A veritable paragon of a man, skilled at whatever he attempted, absolute legend, loved by all; loved life more than anyone I knew. This man’s ability to extract enjoyment from the world was unprecedented and every year around this time I find myself wondering: had Dean been given only a regular zest for life, had he not been as awesome, had his presence not been as scintillating as it was, might the greatest guy the world has ever known still be around today?
Dean Jared Carroll, died 14th April, 2007, aged 25.
Article by Tim Walker
Edited by Thunka U Dean
Photography by Aslute Campion