Existential Back Pain

Dr. Young,

First off, let me say that you come highly recommended by a close
personal friend. What a perfect time to have discovered your practice.
You see, lately my lower back has been quite an issue. It burns and I
swear to Zeus hurts all the time. I sit in a chair all day at work, an
obvious trigger to back pain, I know. The effects have been compounded
by an aging knee, stiff ankles, and board-flat feet. I’m 62 years old
and am feeling old age creep into every pour of my body. Big surprise,
eh?

I’ve done no great deeds, nothing everlasting, nothing steely rooted
to withstand the tests of time. Everything is fleeting. Everything
I’ve done, everyone I’ve known, and everything here will be gone soon
enough. What the hell happened, you know? No one can even name their
own great grand parents’ name. Think about me, who the hell is going
to know I was here? Is it natural to want to be everlasting? Is there
grace in fading away quietly, solemnly, modestly?

Does it matter if someone knew a person existed? If a civilization
disappears is it important we knew they existed? What beliefs they
held? What truths they grasped? If the earth disappears is it
important that other planets’ being knew we existed? Isn’t it vitally
important they know how far we’ve come? What we’ve discovered? What
we’ve created? What if earth disappeared, truly? Is it a common desire
to share our existence with other peoples? Does anyone care? I cringe
at the thought of our earth never getting the chance. As my life
subsides how do I accept a silent departure into infinity?

In the meantime my back fucking kills. How are you looking next week?

Best Regards,

Tyler

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