The “Don’t Die” movement has a certain blunt appeal—optimize everything, control every variable, outrun mortality through metrics. Bryan Johnson is its poster child: disciplined, regimented, tracked to the decimal. Admirable? Sure. But also a kind of longevity narcissism, where life becomes a lab experiment instead of a lived experience.
“Do Live,” on the other hand, is far less glamorous and far more courageous. It invites us to savor the day instead of trying to outsmart the calendar. It’s about waking each morning with the awareness that time is precious and finite—not something to fear, but something to honor. Living as if today were your last isn’t reckless; it’s clarifying. It reminds us to say what matters, prioritize who matters, and notice the ordinary miracles hiding in plain sight.
As someone with stage-3 cancer growing inside me and getting mentally and emotionally prepared for the likelihood of more treatment in 2026, I appreciate that cancer has been both a punishing and an enlightening teacher, a reminder that every day is a gift. Emblazoned on my soul is Gandhi’s quote: “Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.”
In the end, “Don’t Die” is about preservation. “Do Live” is about participation. And participation is where a well-lived life actually happens.
If you want to listen to a MIDLIFE CHRYSALIS podcast focused on the value of living every day to the fullest, you might enjoy this episode with two famous adventure athletes, Laird Hamilton and Gabby Reece.
-Chip