Daphne, the daughter of the river god Peneus, was a beautiful nymph in Greek myth who spent her time hunting and rejected her many suitors. Her father wanted her to marry but she was extremely opposed to the idea. One day the god Eros had an argument with Apollo, who doubted the strength of his arrows. Eros shoots Apollo with an arrow that causes him to fall in love with Daphne. He chases her through the woods and as he gains on her Daphne pleads to her father for help and he turns her into a Laurel tree. Apollo, in his pity, proclaims that Laurel trees will always be green and he begins wearing a Laurel wreath on his head.
One of man's most persistent obsessions has always been senescence and how to avoid it. Even the ancient Greeks longed for immortality and endless youth. In the story of Daphne and Apollo, it is not even her choice, but Daphne is forced to live forever as a tree. Even though it would be appealing to most, the idea of immortality, or at least eternal youth, is not appealing to me. By the time people had lived hundreds or thousands of years, they might grow tired of life and wish to die. This does not mean, however, that I do not think we should try to extend our lifespans. We should do everything we can to allow people to live in better health and for longer, but I, personally, would not want to live forever.
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