Enjoy the fruits of retirement

Many people dread the very notion of retirement. "If I retire what will happen to my family?" "From where can I get a regular income?" These problems are bound to worry everybody who retires from whatever work they have been doing. But it is inevitable that we have to hang up our boots one day and say goodbye to our work places.

I have seen people crying and beating their chests when they are on the verge of retirement. Is this really necessary? You have to face retirement with courage. Even if you lose your main avenue of income there can be other ways of making money depending on your experience and qualifications.

Last week I read a small advertisement inserted by an 88-year-old police officer. The advertisement said that he was in good health and was willing to work. Hat's off to such courageous people who never say die.

Sometimes retirement comes as a blessing in disguise. I can give many examples of people who are doing very well in their retirement. Some have become successful businessmen and others have taken to farming in a big way.

Whether you work or retire what matters is your happiness. When you are employed you are happy because you get a regular income. You also meet people and enjoy their company. Many of us do not wish to change this state of happiness.

Nothing remains static. You cannot step into the same river twice because the river has changed. When everything is subject to change, you cannot expect your happiness to remain unchanged. We are born to die because death is inevitable.

You cannot listen to good music for ever because that will cease at some point of time. If you start reading an interesting book, you have to read the last page and put it away. That means we cannot expect stability in any of our pursuits for ever. Happiness is no exception.

If you sit back and analyse happiness, things will become clearer to you. When you are a child, you see the world as a happy place. When you grow up, you begin to see the ugly side of life. As an educated adult you may not see the beauty of the blue sky or you may not hear beautiful songs sung by birds.

You are too busy to look at the wonders of nature.When once you retire, you regret for not seeing the light within you that illuminated everything you came across. As a retire now you have the opportunity and the time to see the inner light.

One mistake we do in retirement is to repent for what we have not done. Why repent? Think of what you have done to yourself, your family and community. Make a mental note of your achievements and banish negative thoughts.

Once a friend told me that those who retire die early. But we have no statistics to prove or disprove this statement. I have seen many retired people living up to the ripe old age of 80 or 90. You can meet some of them at the YMCA cafeteria in Colombo Fort.

There people had been actively engaged in some kind of meaningful activity. When once you concentrate on a productive activity, your heart pumps enough blood to complete it.

Sickness is another misfortune that afflicts all retired people. But there is no reason why you should be disheartened. Apart from taking medicine, do not think you are sick. Present sufferings can be remedied and do not worry about the future sufferings that may or may not come your way.

If you are physically and mentally strong, you can fight any kind of suffering. Montaigne courageously endured a very painful sickness and Diogenes lived alone as a poor man. Philosophers say we are gifted with strong minds which can control physical suffering. They say most of our suffering is voluntary or imaginary.

That brings us to the interesting situation where people think that they are poor or sick. Both are mental states. If you think you are poor, you will remain poor. If you think you are sick, you will be sick. In retirement you think you are poor because your income has taken a nose-dive. But do you need so much of money now? Your children have grown up and employed.

They have their own families to look after. If you have a house to live in and something to eat, you can lead a contented life.

When you are young, you have many ambitions. You might be able to realise some of them. While in retirement if you start brooding over your failures, you are doomed to suffer. Now is the time to think of today. Instead of thinking of the past or the future, think of the present. According to Greek philosophy the most important moment in life is NOW!

Many retired people worry about their children who did not succeed in life. Why do you want to worry about them? You have done your best to educate them. If they have failed to learn any skill, they have to blame themselves. Do not think of failed projects frustrated moments or things you could not achieve in life. Nobody can achieve everything they wish to have. That is the way of the world.

If retired people begin to look at life with open minds, they would discover that they did not really desire things they failed to achieve. Once I met a young man whose ambition was to become a lawyer. When I met him as a retired government servant, he said he had no regrets.

Although I studied the law, I didn't want to be a lawyer, If you desire something you get it. Napoleon Bonaparte desired power and he was able to surmount all the obstacles and eventually became the Emperor.

I remember Socrates's memorable words: "Know theyself." Unfortunately we do not know who we are. Look in the mirror and ask yourself "Who am I?" You will find it difficult to answer this simple question. In order to answer this question meaningfully you have to know your strengths and weaknesses.

We are living in a funny world. Rich people are bored to death. They do not know what to do with their wealth. Poor people are struggling to make ends meet. Meanwhile, many people seem to enjoy their troubles and misfortunes. They pity themselves. Even if you try to help them, they get annoyed.

By the time you retire, you realise that life is full of suffering. But time is a master healer. As you grow old, you forget past worries and enter a new world of awareness. If you cannot forget a heart-rending event, go out and look at the sea, the mountains and the woods.

They have a calming effect on your worried mind. If you are still unhappy, go on a trip to the hill country. Travel is an effective remedy for mental suffering.

If you appreciate that as much good comes from change as bad, you will avoid the concerns that many people seem to have about it. Relax and be open to change when it visits you.

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