Examples of people becoming necessary and remaining so into late life are many. Matter to Someone Being necessary can be as simple as having a pet or doing volunteer work or writing a letter to the editor or picking up litter or enriching the life of your great-grandchild by reading to him or her or teaching someone how to knit or helping with the dishes or campaigning for your favorite candidate. When we stop mattering in this world, our continued consumption of resources becomes senseless. Being necessary has clear survival advantages. Medical journals are full of evidence that show when a spouse or close partner dies, the endurability of the remaining partner is jeopardized.
Married people live longer because marriage implies interdependent relationships.
Each is necessary for the other. When this contract is broken and necessity seems at risk, then death lurks. You can't disengage and be necessary at the same time. You must take risks and remain resourceful. Being necessary means being in sync with the times, being relevant.