I was laid off from my last real job in January 2023 - and it has been the most difficult and frustrating time of my life since. I was 58 when I got laid off...

I took a job with another startup company in May 2023, and was let go in December with my severance package paperwork calling out that if I accepted the deal that I would be forfeiting my right to sue over ageism...

I then landed a contract with one of the theme parks here in Orlando - and for no reason the contract was terminated after two weeks and one day. When I say no reason was given, there honestly was no reason period. I asked my account manager and he only said he believes it's corporate politics between staffing agencies. But I believe myself that they saw me in person and saw that I'm 60 years old now, and most the team were 40 and below...

I'm running my own coaching side hustle that is now my only source of income. It's not by choice, or at least for this to happen this early in my career, but it's a fact of life. I've struggled to get interviews for open roles even though I have serious skills and a stellar resume including Google, Meta, Amazon, Intel and Microsoft in ever growing responsibilities.

If you're over 45 and out there looking then you're likely experiencing the same situation with the results worse the older you are. There is no logical reason to reject older applicants truly - only a perception that we're not keeping up with technology. I can truly dispel that notion since I have been working with AI, ML now since 2019 and am taking courses and applying learnings to my own projects. But the perception of obsolescence can't be shaken because of the appearance of my gray hair and hard earned crow's feet.

I'm going to finish my project based on my brilliant idea for improving ambient noise reduction and market it. Someone will find it to be valuable, starting with consumers and eventually a company will invest or buy it outright. Then I'll move on to the next great invention I dream up. My brain is still sharp and working efficiently, even if I look weather worn.

Older workers need to be heard by our government. If certain factions want to screw us over and take away our Social Security that we paid into all our working lives then they need to make sure we're not left to live under bridges or worse...