Post Retirement - The Best Years Of Your Life
June 28, 2008
Not so long ago, retirement signalled the end of the productive phase of one’s life. The general attitude was that let alone productivity or efficiency, the moment one turned 58 or 60, one was transformed into a decrepit creature, completely incapable of coherent thought. Practically, shoved out of office, you were pretty much confined to an armchair for the rest of your life. For the lucky ones, there were morning walks and monthly pensions to look forward to. For others, inadequate retirement benefits left them stranded and struggling to make ends meet.
However, times have a-changed, and retirement is no longer seen to signal an end of paid work, productivity or usefulness to society. For many today, life after retirement has opened a new lifestyle option, combining new career options with travel education and service to community. In fact, many feel that life begins at sixty, life begins after retirement. One has time and the wherewithal for old age activities, socializing, lunches and dinners with friends, picnics and community events of all kinds.
Even though terrific retirement schemes abound, many retirees take up work post retirement. Not only for the money, but to learn new things, meet new people and find some meaningful purpose in life. For the fifty-plus people, there are rewarding career choices, such as, freelancing, doing community service or even indulging in some entrepreneurship. One can still get adventurous, explore new career avenues, begin a whole new chapter in one’s life.
Life after retirement means enough time to engage in physical activity like walking or yoga to keep healthy, as healthy also stands for independent. With no mad dash for the office, one can indulge in late sleep-ins, leisurely breakfasts, go on picnics or catch up with friends for a round of golf. One also has enough time for one’s favourite pastime i.e. gardening and the growing of flowers and vegetables, which can prove to be a great stress buster. Help the grandchildren with their home work, take them to the park to play, narrate stories and become their best friends.
Retirement time is also time to renew your marriage vows and take your partner on a second honeymoon. It is a time to volunteer and give back to society, to use one’s skills and experience to start a business, or learn to paint, sing or dance. Sixty today is yesterday’s fifty! One only has to look at film celebrity Rekha, Hema Malini or for that matter even Amitabh Bachchan to know what I mean. They are as much in demand as they were in their hey days, in fact, even more so! Just ask any twenty-something how they compare Rekha or Hema Malini to today’s crop of fresh young faces. You know the answer … No one can match Rekha for sensuousness, or Hema Malini for dignified grace! Compare Rekha’s Umrao Jaan to Aishwarya Rai’s and the latter no matter how beautiful her face, fades away in Rekha’s presence. Compare Zeenat Aman’s characterization of Roma in Don to Priyanka Chopra’s and you know what I mean!
Life begins at 60, life begins post retirement! Simply enjoy!
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