Coffee Talk

Coffee shop, outside table, talking about past career moves. When my friend mentions what she was doing in 2014, I’m curious about her level of experience at the time. So I say, “I’m 64—how old are you?”

She leans across the table and whispers, “I’m about to turn 50” with a look that suggests horror. A little disgust.

I give her the pep talk, explain how society’s messaging is flawed and there’s no sensible reason to believe our worth drops as our age rises. But I’m thinking, damn this culture.

Why convince people there’s something wrong with staying alive?

Photo by Decha Huayyai on Pexels