Life expectancy in America just hit an all-time high. Seventy-nine years. We’re living longer than we ever have.

And I find myself asking a question that never quite gets answered: What are we doing with the extra time?

We’ve gotten better at not dying. I’m just not sure we’ve gotten better at living. The CDC says we’ve beaten back heart disease, cancer, even drug overdoses. The numbers are moving in the right direction.

But longevity isn’t the same thing as a life well lived. You can add years without adding meaning. You can extend the clock without filling the hours.

So we’re living longer. Are we living better? What do those extra years look like for most people?

The Daily Note with James A. Brown is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

The best conversations are two-way streets. I want to hear from you.

* Email: [email protected]

* Call or Text: (585) 371-8865

* Leave a Voice Memo: thedailynote.net/contact

P.S. I tell stories on radio stations and online five days a week. You can find them on Substack, Apple, Spotify, Reddit, YouTube, Instagram, and wherever podcasts are available.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jamesbrowntv.substack.com/subscribe