Music/Life

I’m not sure I understand the question, but here is what comes up for me.

As I understand it, to "burn out" implies "burning the candle at both ends " or living as fully as possible, for a short span. I’m not as clear about the meaning of "fading away" but I’ve most often garnered the impression that it has a negative connotation, representing an unrealized, purposeless life that becomes less meaningful as it drags on monotonously..

Many people who "burn the candle at both ends" seem to pay a steep price, often in terms of sacrificing physical and or mental health, which results in a short life. There are also adrenaline junkie who engage in extreme sports and meet early ends. The latter seem to believe an early, spectacular death is preferable to a longer life span that involves a normal slow diminishment of faculties. 

Admittedly there are also people born with an above average capacity/energy for achievement/intense engagement with life. They may burn "hot" for a long time without necessarily "burning out". There are also people who are "slow and steady"-- they maintain a consistent pace and achieve a lot without appearing remarkably effortful.

We are each born with a particular temperament and physiology. We have to work with who we are and make the most of it.

If we get to the point where we cannot make wise choices regarding what’s best for our well being, then it’s time to seek professional help.

@slaw 

Perhaps You can provide a link to Neil Young's comments. That way, you may get more targeted responses. 

@roxy54 

Yes; I'm aware of Neil's lyric re: Johnny Rotten.

Whatever implications that might have for forum members escapes me.

@slaw

OK. Thanks for the clarification!

@tony1954

Many experiment while young, then opt for less risky lifestyles. Others appear to be born with a stronger than normal craving for intensity/stimulation. When it's a function of brain chemistry, it's not so easy to outgrow, especially when it leads to addiction. 

@slaw 

Yes; he does. The one with G. Allman is the first one I came across, filmed at Allman's home. 

@tomic601 

some “ flunk it “…

You mean, the ones who, sooner or later, go back to work?   ;o)

@slaw 

He did a good one with R. Plant, too...

@tomic601

FYI: my insertion of ;o) was intended to convey the fact that I was speaking "tongue in cheek". I wouldn’t presume to judge the efficacy of anyone else’s retirement. That would be ridiculous, not to mention wholly irrelevant. 

@tomic601

ah… thank you…i had my subtlety detector set to low…. and often..my posts are self coaching… Best to you in music - i greatly enjoy your contributions her

No worries! I make plenty of mistakes in interpretation, here. I believe it’s unavoidable in a communication medium where we aren’t privy to so much of the information that would otherwise be available to us in a phone call, not to mention a face to face conversation. All we can do is try our best.

@larsman

They need not be mutually exclusive....

Indeed not! And we need not stay in one place on the spectrum bookended by these extremes. I’m not an "adrenaline junky" but one of the main pay-offs that draw me to engage in my hobbies -- listening to music, playing guitar, creative writing -- is the access they offer to a state of "enhanced aliveness". However, it takes a significant amount of energy to sustain that state. I’m nearly 69 and don’t have the sort of endurance I once had. So, some of my time is spent in higher intensity mode and the rest in lower intensity mode.

@slaw

I really had a "tongue in cheek" attitude when I initially posted this. Of course every individual has a personal answer but all are valid

Now I see that. At first, I assumed you were looking for some sort of in-depth philosophical debate. ;o)

And I agree that all answers are "valid’.