Monday, April 09, 2012
RETIREMENT BLUES! (For Mahakali ALM Apr.2012)
Retirement! The word always brought on the jitters to all of us “careerists” moving slowly towards that inevitable day in our lives! Can anyone blame us for dreading the thought? Having spent the better part of our lives in our workplaces, this revered place became a part of our very beings! The major consumer of our time, energy, talent, ambitions, aspirations, desires, friendships, frustrations – in fact every bit of our existence! How can we give it all up one dark morning? “It’s only a job and you’ve had enough of it”; “You are now 60-you need to relax, take it easy”; “Enough of rushing for the 8:15, learn to enjoy a hot cup of tea in the mornings”; “Read the newspaper over a scrumptious breakfast”; “I’m sure you will find better things to do - read, go to the movies, re-kindle your hobbies”.
The spouse, the son, the daughter-in-law, the daughter; they just don’t seem to get it! I try to explain, to convince them. Yes it started as a job, a profession, a means of livelihood that had a semblance of discipline, timing, a schedule, a plan; but slowly every shred of regulation went out the window. This job grew into a career, a passion; it assumed mammoth proportions and started to consume my very heart and soul! The family gently slipped to the back, the kids gradually managed themselves, the spouse learnt to ‘understand’ and the career - it just took over! So much so, I attributed my very existence to it. Didn’t it give me my success, my status, esteem, a decent life, house, car, comforts? “How can I let go of it? What is 60 years? What will I do with all this spare time? I shall suffer a break down! You people just don’t understand!”
A great tussle ensued inside! I had to find a way out. I had to calm my nerves and take ‘retirement’ by the horns! I had to retire! Everybody does! And I am not differentiating between men and women here; for the situation is no different for either. I’m sure they go through the same emotional upheavals!
And so one fine morning I found myself sitting in the balcony, with a cup of tea and newspaper. No idea of the time, not a care in the world! Sales targets, manufacturing schedules, all deadlines had been met! I had set myself free!
The children had flown the nest in pursuit of their dreams and left the two of us to ourselves. A most frightening thought I can tell you! But one can turn it into the most beautiful phase of life. Catch up on all the wonderful things you always wanted to do but could not find the time for! Relax, enjoy the small pleasures of life; savor the quality time that you can now spend with the spouse! Do everything you were too busy to even think of! And you will realize, as did I that “retirement” can be fun, it can be fulfilling if only we knew how!
Today most retired couples find themselves ‘alone’ – no encumbrances, no responsibilities, not even worries for company! This can be very intimidating and unsettling! For all our lives we have lived for someone else, weighed down by familial duties, social obligations. But fear not, life need not be ‘empty’. We can still make it rich and gratifying. Consider it a time to give back to society, in whatever small manner we can or just find new interests and hobbies.
One of the first tasks we undertook was to rebuild the 150 year old family temple in Songaon, a small village near Chiplun. Bringing together the entire clan was a happy chore! New bonds were forged and old ones renewed with the blessings of Lord Ganesh! The most satisfying achievement was the sense of gratification doing this for the community. It felt great!
I then turned to my pet hobby. I was always a die-hard travel bug! The mountains and oceans, forests and falls; temples, churches, palaces; had always beckoned me. Now was the time to return the call. Likeminded friends were roped in. A vision took shape – Wander-lust! Starting with the towering Himalayas, we traversed the country state by state. Then we set our sights on Europe! A Backpacking Tour of Europe - 13 countries, including Iceland!
And we did all the spadework ourselves! No SOTC or Raja Rani Travels. Poring over Route Maps, Charting the Route, Youth Hostel Bookings! Euros, Dollars, Francs, Kroners! Time zones, Temperatures, Food, Tickets! Everything had to be thought of! We pulled it off!
We followed it up with a trip down under, to the very edge of the Earth! We traversed the length and breadth of Australia and New Zealand! This year it’s the Far East. And the list is not over!
I have found my “Retirement Calling”. I’m sure you will find yours! You only have to believe in yourself and go for it!
The spouse, the son, the daughter-in-law, the daughter; they just don’t seem to get it! I try to explain, to convince them. Yes it started as a job, a profession, a means of livelihood that had a semblance of discipline, timing, a schedule, a plan; but slowly every shred of regulation went out the window. This job grew into a career, a passion; it assumed mammoth proportions and started to consume my very heart and soul! The family gently slipped to the back, the kids gradually managed themselves, the spouse learnt to ‘understand’ and the career - it just took over! So much so, I attributed my very existence to it. Didn’t it give me my success, my status, esteem, a decent life, house, car, comforts? “How can I let go of it? What is 60 years? What will I do with all this spare time? I shall suffer a break down! You people just don’t understand!”
A great tussle ensued inside! I had to find a way out. I had to calm my nerves and take ‘retirement’ by the horns! I had to retire! Everybody does! And I am not differentiating between men and women here; for the situation is no different for either. I’m sure they go through the same emotional upheavals!
And so one fine morning I found myself sitting in the balcony, with a cup of tea and newspaper. No idea of the time, not a care in the world! Sales targets, manufacturing schedules, all deadlines had been met! I had set myself free!
The children had flown the nest in pursuit of their dreams and left the two of us to ourselves. A most frightening thought I can tell you! But one can turn it into the most beautiful phase of life. Catch up on all the wonderful things you always wanted to do but could not find the time for! Relax, enjoy the small pleasures of life; savor the quality time that you can now spend with the spouse! Do everything you were too busy to even think of! And you will realize, as did I that “retirement” can be fun, it can be fulfilling if only we knew how!
Today most retired couples find themselves ‘alone’ – no encumbrances, no responsibilities, not even worries for company! This can be very intimidating and unsettling! For all our lives we have lived for someone else, weighed down by familial duties, social obligations. But fear not, life need not be ‘empty’. We can still make it rich and gratifying. Consider it a time to give back to society, in whatever small manner we can or just find new interests and hobbies.
One of the first tasks we undertook was to rebuild the 150 year old family temple in Songaon, a small village near Chiplun. Bringing together the entire clan was a happy chore! New bonds were forged and old ones renewed with the blessings of Lord Ganesh! The most satisfying achievement was the sense of gratification doing this for the community. It felt great!
I then turned to my pet hobby. I was always a die-hard travel bug! The mountains and oceans, forests and falls; temples, churches, palaces; had always beckoned me. Now was the time to return the call. Likeminded friends were roped in. A vision took shape – Wander-lust! Starting with the towering Himalayas, we traversed the country state by state. Then we set our sights on Europe! A Backpacking Tour of Europe - 13 countries, including Iceland!
And we did all the spadework ourselves! No SOTC or Raja Rani Travels. Poring over Route Maps, Charting the Route, Youth Hostel Bookings! Euros, Dollars, Francs, Kroners! Time zones, Temperatures, Food, Tickets! Everything had to be thought of! We pulled it off!
We followed it up with a trip down under, to the very edge of the Earth! We traversed the length and breadth of Australia and New Zealand! This year it’s the Far East. And the list is not over!
I have found my “Retirement Calling”. I’m sure you will find yours! You only have to believe in yourself and go for it!
# posted by rdbelite @ 3:07 AM 
