How It Feels to Be Fifty

"How It Feels to Be Fifty" by Ellis Parker Butler is a thoughtful essay from the past that considers what it means to turn fifty years old. The story looks at ideas like getting older, feeling alive, and seeing life in a new way. The author shares a funny and hopeful idea about growing older, disagreeing with the usual negative views and attitudes. The person telling the story talks about moments from their own life to show how their thoughts on age have changed. He doesn't believe that turning fifty means life is getting worse; instead, he thinks it's the start of a better and more satisfying time. He talks about the worries he had when he was younger, like getting married and how he looked, and explains that these worries aren't important to him anymore because he feels happy and peaceful. He compares himself to a young worker who is now ready to face life's challenges, and he encourages others to believe that the best experiences can happen after turning fifty. The essay aims to encourage people to see aging as something good, not as a decline, but as a chance to keep learning and exploring.