Why people want to live long?

I knew a young teen artist who was immensely talented. His parents did not know what to do with him because he did not want to study required classes. Testing showed he had the ability to excel in any subject, he just didn't want to.

His father was a musician and his mother a fine artist, and both were successful at their art.

There son applied for an art show, with help from my daughter who was in college. He got into the show declaring that it was a retrospective on his life's work. It was as if he were dead. In attendance, people laughed about his taking the position at such a young age, though many graduate students felt threatened by the young mans work. It was so good in ideas and execution.

When I talked with him, he was aware that his work and presence was amusing to people and he played the role just as Joaquin Phoenix. He enjoyed the experience. He said to me that this is as much as one can expect, to have art professors and art peers appreciating the work.

"The trouble is, I can't make it any better. I am finished."

The next year, he committed suicide, jumping from the Bay Bridge.