The Truth About Getting Older (That No One Tells You)
Dear Son,
Here’s something they never tell you when you’re young:
Getting older isn’t just about losing hair or forgetting why you walked into the room.
It’s about becoming invisible in a world that’s obsessed with youth.
It’s about watching people you love fade — sometimes slowly, sometimes overnight.
It’s about waking up one day and realizing you’re not chasing life anymore — you’re listening to it.
And here’s the part that caught me off guard:
You don’t become wise automatically.
You have to pay for it.
Getting older has been one of the most humbling things I’ve ever lived through.
Because it strips away everything that doesn’t matter — titles, looks, bravado — and asks:
Who are you when no one’s clapping anymore?
At 73, I don’t need to impress anyone.
But I do want to tell the truth before I go.
The truth is:
You will lose people you thought you’d never have to live without.
You will outgrow some things you swore you’d never give up.
You will survive things you once thought would break you.
And if you’re lucky — really lucky —
you’ll learn how to slow down, shut up, and start appreciating things you used to walk past.
Like silence.
Or the sound of a dog’s breath while they sleep.
Or your own heartbeat when you realize you're still here.
Don’t be afraid of getting older.
Be afraid of growing older without growing deeper.
The lines on your face aren’t a curse — they’re a receipt.
Proof that you’ve been here. That you’ve felt things. That you matter.
If I had a son, I’d want him to hear this…
Aging isn’t something to resist — it’s something to learn from.
And if you’re lucky enough to make it to your 70s,
you’ll realize that what you feared most wasn’t aging…
…it was waking up too late to start becoming who you were meant to be.
📌 This letter was written by Fred Ferguson (GeezerWise). If it spoke to you, I’d love to hear back—just hit reply.
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—Fred [GeezerWise]