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EPISODE · Mar 22, 2026 · 7 MIN

The Chain of Life

from The Everyday Human · host Eastin DeVerna

March: On DeathMarch 22Today's reflection was inspired by a quote from Natalie Babbitt's novel Tuck Everlasting.The number 117 billion is our best assumption at the number of humans who have ever lived on Earth. And all of those 109 billion people who came before us—our ancestors—all had their turn at life. They had their turn, they did the best they could (for the most part, maybe) and then they grew old and passed on or died young—to make room for us.So we have to do our best as well. We have to do our best and then step aside for the new children who will grow and carry the torch when it’s our time to go. And we’ll do this for as long as it takes. One continuous chain. Because that’s what humans do.Reflection title: The Chain of LifeCreative inspiration: Natalie Babbitt, Tuck EverlastingReflection Question: Have I been so preoccupied with my own turn at life that I’ve failed to consider those who came before and those who will come after? What will I do to set the stage for the future generations?

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Mar 22, 2026

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March: On Death March 22 Today's reflection was inspired by a quote from Natalie Babbitt's novel Tuck Everlasting. The number 117 billion is our best assumption at the number of humans who have ever lived on Earth. And all of those 109 billion people who came before us—our ancestors—all had their turn at life. They had their turn, they did the best they could (for the most part, maybe) and then they grew old and passed on or died young—to make room for us. So we have to do our best as w...

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The Chain of Life

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