Vampires are everywhere! From the Twilight series of books and movie(s) to the HBO show True Blood, the vampires have pop culture hook, line, and sinker.  But what is it about blood-sucking creatures with fangs that electrifies human interest?

I saw my first episode of True Blood a few weeks ago and ever since, I can’t get enough of the vampire world. There’s something profound about the vampire mythology that effects us at a deeper level. Following are three things about human nature brought to light by the modern day vampire phenomenon:

1. Vampires Live Forever
Most every human being has pondered the fountain of youth. By 2015, the global anti-aging products market will reach $291 billion*. But the truth is, unlike vampires, we cannot live forever. I’ve always found the yogis’ perspective on aging to be very interesting. The yogis believe youthfulness is not based on the condition of one’s skin or the shape of one’s body. Rather, they believe youthfulness is based on the vibrancy of your spirit, the level of your enthusiasm, and an ability to free the mind. John Barrymore said, “You don’t age until your regrets outnumber your dreams.”

2. Vampires Stay Up All Night…Sleep All Day
Maybe it’s just me, but the idea of taking a whole day to sleep sounds like a dream from the distant past. Only a teenager (or a vampire) could get away with that. The truth told, most of use could benefit from an entire day of sleep.  74% of Americans don’t get enough sleep at night. Sleep-deprived children are twice as likely to abuse drugs when teenagers**. And sleep-deprived adults suffer long-term consequences that include increased risk of heart attack, depression, obesity, and high blood pressure… to name a few.*** So how much sleep do you need? There is no agreed upon golden number of hours necessary. The right amount of sleep varies based on the individual. But sleep should be just as important to health as toning the body, getting a good cardio workout, and eating right. An Irish proverb reads, “A good laugh and a long sleep are the best cures in the doctor’s book.”

3. Vampires Are Driven by Lust
I believe one of the most intriguing aspects of the vampire mythology is their infamous sexual appetite. Without institutions like marriage, vampires roam the night as eternal bachelors and bachelorettes with fangs. Being that 45-55% of married women and 50-60% of married men engage in extramarital sex at some time or another during their relationship****, are we that much different than vampires? The sacred text the Bhagavad Gita reads, “Lust, anger, and greed. Those are the three soul-destroying gates of hell.” At one time or another, if you are halfway human, lust will rear its ugly head in your private life. Whether triggered by the sexy young intern at the office or some old friend who has reached out to you on Facebook, a burning in the loins is a very normal part of the human experience. In my book Yeah Dave’s Guide to Livin’ the Moment, I share a formula for curing lust before it has a chance to wreak havoc in your life.

Next time you’re watching True Blood or reading the latest in the Twilight series, ask yourself: just what is it that engages your mind and hooks your soul?  Author Anne Rice said of the vampire allure, “It takes us back to primitive times when we worshiped dark gods as well as light gods. And it’s a powerful metaphor for the outcast– and monster in all of us.”  To avoid ending on such a dark note, I once read that “peace” is an ability to embrace (rather than subvert) all aspects of our being: happy and sad, good and bad, saint and sinner, human and…vampire.