Letter to my readers

I struggled since childhood with night terrors, about death as an eternal void. My csreer as aging scientist helped me to crack that open, then gain insight through meditation practice.

Fear is not helpful. It is the worst motivation for life extension. Joyful living is the best. Fear is just a chenical programmed by evolution to get us through crises. No use in the long haul.

3 weeks ago, I was riding my bicycle, not paying good attention. A truck going the opposite way pulled into my lane to pass. I struck it head-on, and flew over the truck.

Moments later, I was lying on the ground, bleeding internally and externally many places. I was perhaps 1 hour away from bleeding to death. There was no fear. I had a premonition I would not die, but would endure a long and painful recovery. I think I am done with fear of death.

I have had 5 hi tech surgeries those first 2 weeks. Expert surgeons who also gained my trust as humans.

My vital systems were unharmed: heart, lungs, liver, digestion, spine, CNS, brain. All intact. My legs were shredded, also bad pelvic fracture. This is precisely where Western medicine shines.

And everything I have been doing the last 20 years to keep those systems young has been crucial for my survival and recovery.

Another thing you might not have thought about: No narcotics, no pain meds, just a little Tylenol from time to time. All those nerve signals inform the body’s healing.
And simehow my body has been smart enough to give me perceivable pain only when I need the feedback.

They are talking about full recovery. I am surrounded by loving friends and family.

103 thoughts on “Letter to my readers

  1. Josh,
    oh my God !

    My heartfelt best wishes for you and your recovery. You WILL make it!
    Modern medicine can do miracles in emergencies like this.
    All the best from Germany
    Werner Krag

  2. Oh my God, Josh!
    My heartfelt best wishes for you and your healing.
    You will make it back to full recovery!
    Don’t despair. A whoe community of well-wishers is sending you positive energy. Hope this helps.
    All the best!
    Die besten Wünsche aus Deutschland
    Werner Krag

  3. Dear Josh,
    I am very very sorry for the bad news and I wish you well and I wish to tell you that your articles on aging research are very very good and I read them with great interest.

  4. Extraordinarily sensitive post – had the same fear of the void.
    Hope you recover soon and continue with the joyful living.

  5. I too was hit by a vehicle while biking years ago when I lived in New York. I am pleased to hear that you will be making a full recovery. Physical Therapy is going to be your friend, so learn to embrace it! 🙂 Be well.

  6. Josh so much love and healing your way. I structure water every morning and send I healing intentions into it and will include u in my ritual. You are such a vital life force you will turn this into a gift. Big ❤️

  7. Omg Josh!! Heal fast my dear! We need you and your expertise. Sending you prayers for quick and thorough ❤️‍🩹 healing🙏🏻

  8. I’m so sad to hear this happened to you, but relieved about the good prognosis. The world can’t afford to lose great thinkers like you Josh!

  9. Josh
    Sorry to hear about your terrible accident but so glad that you’re recovering from it. Losing you would have been an immeasurable loss to the entire anti aging community. If there’s such a thing as a silver lining in this , it seems that you discovered it. So from now on, no fear , just hope! Get well soon.

  10. So glad that you have recovered. It is nothing short of a miracle. I am a cyclist myself and go for long rides on open roads and have had collisions with other vehicles, but nothing of the sort you endured. Perhaps, the anti-aging strategies you have followed would have helped you survive and recover. Get fully well soon.

  11. best wishes Josh! Hope you have a speedy recovery and glad to hear that although painful, it has also been a heartening experience for you. I’ve had that too with some of my experiences of illnesses that were dealt really well with by the medical system.

  12. Dear Joshua
    Before your catastrophe, the strength of the magnetic field of hydrogen atoms in your nerves was 2 A / m, i.e. the usual meaning for people. After the catastrophe, the magnetic field strength decreased to a critical value of 0.951 A / m, a critical value of 0.950 A / m. 08/10/2021 I increased the strength of the magnetic field of hydrogen atoms of nerve cells to 44444 A / m through the information field, this is the best optimal value for human health. With such a magnetic field in the blood, water clusters contain 33 molecules, and this gives an increase in the time between division of nerve cells in the counter of division of the “Soul Self” (increases life expectancy) and the blood becomes more fluid, which contributes to better recovery.
    I wish you a speedy recovery.
    Best regards, Ermakov P, Ukraine

  13. Dear Josh

    I thank Gaia and modern medecine for your recovery, I am so happy that you are still with us to share your wisdom.

    I feel like there is so much more you want to say in this post. Maybe it needn’t be said.

    Have a good day.
    Raphael

  14. Josh, I love your articles. I am so glad you will make a full recovery. Since you are a research scientist you might want to check out Dr. Robert Morse. He encourages an alkaline diet for a speedy recovery. He has been doing this for 40 years. It is worth checking out. He has lots of YouTube videos and some books to access on pdf.
    Thanks for you tenacity for the truth
    Kathy

  15. Thank God you are recovering.

    Your posts have been helpful to me. I am grateful.

    I started a local near-death experiencer support group 30 years ago, after noticing how much the NDE created after-shocks of loneliness and fear of sharing their experiences. A side effect of that was for me to lose all fear of death. As my grandfather told me, when he recounted his own NDE when he was 19: “Never fear death, it is the most wonderful thing you can imagine.”

    (I’m a clinical psychologist, and our instinct is to always form support groups for any problem that involves more than one person! ! hahaha)

    There is a huge literature of converging data, and you might reflect on your own intuition, which told you that you wouldn’t die, as an experience that hints that the great body of literature is true.

  16. Josh:

    I am so relieved to hear that you will recover. The world needs a thinker scientist like you.

    I have been trying to send healing energy to you each night, as I meditate.

    I am sorry to hear that you may be in pain.

  17. So, so sorry Mr. Mitteldorf. IMHO you are the very kind of person that indeed doesn’t deserve this sort of unfair stumbling block in your life trajectory, always helping make anybody else’s life better. Your fireproof positive vital attitude will certainly pair with the high quality surgery your body has gone through to get back to your active and full physical, emotional and intellectual activity ASAP. My and my family best and heartfelt wishes will accompany you and the ones you love close to you, to whisper encouraging and loving words should you need them any time at any moment in the days to come. Gonzalo, Evelia y Guillermo. Madrid.

  18. I have learned much from you, Josh.

    Your work has informed my own.

    I can empathize a bit with what you’ve been going through, as a bike accident also put me in the hospital, but w/ less damage.

    I wish you a speedy recovery!

    -Joe

  19. Hi Josh we are ALL praying for your full recovery. We really miss you and your insightful and brilliant posts. We hope to see both soon 🙂

  20. Wow that sounds horrific, holy crap. I always worry about that kind of thing happening to me. I really hope you make a full recovery and live another 1000 years. This reminds me to keep an eye out when I’m on the streets.

  21. Thanks for sharing such a personal post Josh. A life changing event and one similar to an experience I’ve had (was hit by a truck). Get better soon, the world needs your voice now more than ever 🙂

  22. KEEP thinking positive, Josh! The silver lining is that you now have plenty of time to think, both positively and about your puzzles in the world of biology! Thank you again for all you do.
    Best wishes,
    Brian Valerie

  23. OMG. WOW. I’m so sorry to hear this, but I am also really lifted by your sharing that your experience relieved you of fear and gave you new trust in humankind. These are gifts packaged in a tragedy. The fact that you can find gifts in a tragedy is in itself a gift.

    To a speedy and full recovery….

  24. Wow.

    I often tell friends and family that my goal is to purposely live to 120, but if I get hit by a trick tomorrow, I will have no regrets. Well you just experienced that hypothetical with a twist.

    I had to read you email twice to make sure somewhere you did not say, “And then I woke up.”

    From the tone of your letter, Josh, it sure looks like you are over the fear of death and then some!

    Trust your positive optimistic attitude will lead to your full and complete recovery.

  25. Josh what an inspiring and amazing person you are. Hang in and listen to those internal insights. This is the beginning of a new phase. Embrace everything

  26. Hi Josh: Your attitude is and will continue to be your very best medacine. We all look forward to your returning to this blog. You are missed. Michael

  27. Oh my gosh. I’m so sorry that happened to you, but I’m happy that you’re recovering and are keeping a positive outlook. I have a hard time with that myself and reading your post has given me inspiration.
    You’ll be in my prayers tonight.

  28. As a longtime reader of your post I’m glad you’re doing well after this experience, certainly qualified as an NDE to me. I quit road biking a few years ago because of this concern living in a metropolitan area in the west coast. It seems mountain biking is quite a bit safer without those 2 tons vehicles whizzing around you.

  29. Hello Josh , I was sorry to hear about your accident but heartened to read you are getting over it after the treatment and surgery ,
    My best wishes for a speedy recovery ,

  30. Damn Josh!!!
    Be careful …so sorry to hear about your accident sounds terrible!
    I hope you have a speedy recovery
    Make sure you up your D3 for remodeling purposes and boron to make your bones stronger…doctors say people who take boron regularly have bones so strong they ae very hard to saw through….also need magnesium and zinc!! And vit K2 to get the calcium into your bones…get well soon Bro!!!

  31. Get well soon Josh. I’ve always thought of death as the ‘great adventure’, and I’m hoping to prepare for it within the next several centuries.
    Best to Josh.
    Harold

  32. Sending wishes for a complete and healthy recovery. Thank you for all the thoughtful information you have been sharing. It is very valuable.

  33. Hope you recover soon Josh, you’re a much needed voice in the antiaging field.

    I too had a fear of the void, but I also fear what it would mean if we did not one day die. Say via quantum immortality, omega point, or some such other means. Immortality is good if you can lock yourself in an acceptable loop of experiences getting mostly positive experiences with few negative experiences. But devoid of a certain path randomness and the many horrible unending experiences the world can give is quite frightening as well.

  34. “.. done with fear ..” Wow! I wish I could say that…
    (What a terrible story to make your point though!)
    Sending best wishes for a fast and painless recovery!
    If I may suggest s.th.:
    Don’t watch TV, read through that pile of books now..
    hahaha…
    Kind regards

  35. Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

    I am looking forward to your next posts.

    I also have been in the Hospital in the last few weeks.

    The Food isn’t bad, and much needed to repair all the damage, so order your menu choices wisely.

    Get well soon.

    PS. I agree with Harold.
    I think there are some amazing things about to happen.
    I am looking forward to your reporting on them in the Blog.

  36. Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

    I am looking forward to your next posts.

    I also have been in the Hospital in the last few weeks.

    The Food isn’t bad, and much needed to repair all the damage, so order your menu choices wisely.

    Get well soon.

    PS. I agree with Harold, (to clarify) a couple of hundred years sound good.
    I think there are some amazing things about to happen.
    I am looking forward to your reporting on them in the Blog.

  37. Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

    I am looking forward to your next posts.

    I also have been in the Hospital in the last few weeks.

    The Food isn’t bad, and much needed to repair all the damage, so order your menu choices wisely.

    Get well soon.

    PS. I agree with Harold, a couple of hundred years sound good.
    I think there are some amazing things about to happen.
    I am looking forward to your reporting on them in the Blog.

  38. Hello and quick, eventually and of course – certain full recovery and near return. I was checking nearly every day for quite some time to check on your next article. I have two editions (hardcover and paper) of “Cracking the Aging Code”. This is my premier challenge book to check on my full recovery ischemia stroke (facile aphasia) 9 months ago. My egg is cracked every day when I read each page. In perhaps a couple of years hence, only every other chapter lessen the cracking and then perhaps then..only then I will find the entire book many times consumed is just superficially buckled all over that egg.

    Best to better than before.

  39. There are so many messages of love here, Josh. I’ve always loved your take on aging and Life and death in general. I feel certain you’ll continue this mission and we’ll all learn to overcome aging but just as importantly, enjoy the extra life that grants us.

    All my best wishes for a speedy and full recovery.

    Mark

  40. Oh my heavens Josh. So glad you haven’t left this world as a result of the accident. You have a lot more to contribute. Sending my very best for a speedy and total recovery.

  41. Dear Josh,
    as you are my best guide in antiaging,I want to give you an advice for qick recovery: as a veterinarian I have seen many farmers with broken bones,sterile or infected,and I adviced them all to take imidiatly 5000 i.u.Vitamin D (to 60 ng/ml level in blood) ,200-400mcg Vitamin K2, 3-30mg Bor, and 3x1gr Vitamin C (prohibits Morbus Sudeck in 100%,if taken early and long enough), and Cissus,an indian herb for bones. The sucess was astonishing to the doctors.
    Good luck.
    petros

  42. Josh…how devastating! I’m sending positive thoughts and hoping for your full recovery. You are absolutely correct about Western Medicine being excellent at these kind of injuries. I live in a very rural area of Maryland. I always tell my partner that if I am in an accident, “have me stabilized at the local hospital, and then, get me to Hopkins!” (Johns Hopkins in Baltimore).

    Feel better soon!

    Ron

  43. Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

    I am looking forward to your next posts.

    Get well soon.

    PS. I agree with Harold, a couple of hundred years sound good.
    I think there are some amazing things about to happen.
    I am looking forward to your reporting on them in the Blog.

  44. I am hoping for a recovery that keeps you riding a bike and writing as brightly as you have been doing till now. All the best.

  45. Hopefully you’ll manage it till a complete recovery Josh, and be able to move your body again. Obviously your mind is as sharp as it was before. Get well soon, we pray for that.

  46. Hi Josh,

    I’m happy to hear you are on your way to recovery!
    If you recover fully that’s a proof that rejuvenation treatments that you take work !

  47. Sorry to hear about your accident Josh. Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

    ..and remember, if you’re going through hell, keep going (Winston Churchill)

  48. I just learned today about your tragic accident. I lost the fear of death a long time ago while living in the wilderness, when I developed an overwhelming sense of adventure and will to survive.

    Wishing you that strength for a speedy and full recovery!

  49. From a big fan who has previously only posted one comment: terribly sorry to hear, glad a full recovery is expected, hope it is very speedy!!

  50. Stay strong mate. I too have woken up from a bicycle ride inside a CT scanner–it’s scary, sad, and frustrating. I wish you the best possible recovery.

  51. Hope you gain full recovery, Josh.

    I was worried about something of the sort after your last post, though not a physical accident, but an intellectual one.

    I thought, despite your optimism in your last post, the article about inevitability of aging had disturbed you to a greater extent than you let on.

    I checked your blog everyday for a new post (by refreshing blog’s home page, which is always an open tab in my browser), and though you had posted it on 10th of August, I saw it just today (seems like cookies doing their magic), I’m relieved that you’re OK both physically and intellectually.

    Take care, dear friend.

  52. Josh, I have been enjoying your posts for years and also loved your book. Your writing has changed my healthy ageing pathway.I am so sorry to hear that you were in such a terrible accident. Such a shock to the body! I remember telling you about a book (Staring at the Sun) by renounced psychiatrist, Irving Yalom that I read a few years ago about overcoming the fear of death. Yalom maintains that only when we live in the clear knowledge of our own mortality, that it is possible to truly embrace life and live it to the fullest. He says that sometimes a brush with death, or the demise of a friend, can be the window to start a more joyful, less fearful life.
    On another note, I fell heavily when racing downhill on concrete to rescue a bird, and very badly fractured all fingers in my left hand. I had a great medical team and despite the hand physio saying that I would always have restricted movement and pain during winter, neither have eventuated and both hands function exactly the same with no pain in either. I was very conscientious during my exercise regime, but something else that helped me were regular Thai massages. We were holidaying in Thailand after the splint was removed, I had a hand massage every few days. When I returned to Australia, the physio said that most 20 year olds would not have had so much movement afterwards, and I was 70 at the time.
    Anyway, get well, my trusted adviser and friend.

    • Thanks for your story and your caring, Sue. I feel that my healing has become a community project, with support from readers around the world. Yes, doctors are not very good at predicting outcomes, and perhaps part of that is that so much depends on each of us, the individual patients. I’m in this for full recovery.
      -Josh

  53. Update:
    I am done with all the major surgeries weeks ago, and now I’m in a waiting period until my bones are re-grown in my legs and they allow me to begin rehab. I’m hoping to be in my home during this in-between month, with lots of nursing support and a PCA to bring me food, etc.

    Everything looks good, with the exception of a fear of infection in the area of my left leg that was reconstructed, with a muscle graft to cover a titanium rod. So I’m on IV antibiotics for a few days while they ease their minds that I am no longer an infection risk.

    My care has been superb, and my spirit strong. I am learning to trust my caregivers and to trust the universe to provide me the most powerful lessons I’m capable of absorbing.

    -Josh

  54. I have been enjoying your posts for years and also loved your book. Your writing has changed my healthy ageing pathway.I am so sorry to hear that you were in such a terrible accident. Such a shock to the body! I remember telling you about a book (Staring at the Sun) by renounced psychiatrist, Irving Yalom that I read a few years ago about overcoming the fear of death. Yalom maintains that only when we live in the clear knowledge of our own mortality, that it is possible to truly embrace life and live it to the fullest. He says that sometimes a brush with death, or the demise of a friend, can be the window to start a more joyful, less fearful life.
    On another note, I fell heavily when racing downhill on concrete to rescue a bird, and very badly fractured all fingers in my left hand. I had a great medical team and despite the hand physio saying that I would always have restricted movement and pain during winter, neither have eventuated and both hands function exactly the same with no pain in either. I was very conscientious during my exercise regime, but something else that helped me were regular Thai massages. We were holidaying in Thailand after the splint was removed, I had a hand massage every few days. When I returned to Australia, the physio said that most 20 year olds would not have had so much movement afterwards, and I was 70 at the time.
    Anyway, get well, my trusted adviser and virtual friend

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