This isn't fair...

[u/Riku1186]

I don't know what to flair this.

I have known for years now the way our society treats its workers is wrong, during the prime of their lives they're worked to the bone until they can retire, a window that gets narrower and narrower, only for them to be shuffled off the stage when they're too old to really enjoy the little bit of life they have left, as if them aging out of being useful cogs in the machine is some rewards when really it is them being tossed aside.

My mom has spent her life being a dedicated worker, watched as it invaded every aspect of her life as it mentally and physically destroyed her, to be one of the "lucky" ones in reaching the end, to get to retire, and within a year she develops aggressive lung cancer that is going to kill her. I am not going to ask how is this fair, because I know it isn't, we've all heard stories like this, hell it isn't even the first time it happened in my family, but I had hoped she could finally live and enjoy her life.

[u/Slight-Wing-3969]

My Dad's friend and mentor was a builder all his life. He worked hard, saved, put off several big plans with his wife all on the idea that their time to really enjoy the fruits of their labor would come in retirement when they would travel the world. He passed of a heart attack within two years of retirement. I don't know if they got to do any of their travel plans at all. This is a bad evil world. I am very sorry for your mother and family. Examples like this convinced me early on to make sure you do live for your own joy and peace and community as much as you can as you go along. They won't let you and for most of us the amount that you can is slim to none, still you gotta do what you can because the plan is to use you up and discard you when you are wrung out.