The Stage You're Not Supposed to See

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It’s not something that went wrong.
It’s not a glitch in the system.
It’s not something we’re supposed to avoid talking about.
It’s part of the deal.
We’re born into a story that has an ending.
Every single one of us.
But look at how we live.
We act like death is optional.
Like if we ignore it long enough, it won’t apply to us.
We build a culture that worships youth and hides aging.
We push old people to the margins.
We cut the story off before it gets uncomfortable.
And then we wonder why people are afraid.
Afraid of getting older.
Afraid of slowing down.
Afraid of becoming invisible.
But here’s the part we don’t say enough:
Not everyone gets the chance to grow old.
So if you are aging, you are not failing.
You are surviving.
And death?
It’s not the part of life that ruins the story.
It’s the part that reminds you it matters.

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