Stress and Joy of Superannuation
Old age, believe me, is a good and pleasant thing. It is true you are gently shouldered off the stage, but then you are given a comfortable front stall as spectator. Confucius
Retirement
has been discovery of beauty for me. I never had the time before to notice the
beauty of my grandkids, my wife, the tree outside my very own front door and
the beauty of time itself.
Hartman Jule
I
superannuated from the Govt. service at the age 60 Years in 2004 say more than
eighteen years back and the pen that was known for firm commitments came to
stand still: I became a pensioner and always felt superannuation was good and
pleasant thing but never realized, “I have been shouldered off the stage” and
“given a comfortable front stall as a spectator” in house hold affairs too:
continued to meddle in our house hold
affairs and influenced majority of the domestic issues, as before, perhaps in a
few issues it was either not liked by others or it did not suit them or it did
not provide them the space required, had a simmering under current of which I
was over confident, would never become a flame but it did, and we both Pati and
Patni were made to realize that, “we have been shouldered off the stage,” and
that our role is that of “a spectator in the comfortable front row”, even in
household affairs, slowly we became accustomed to it and it became a part of
our normal routine: we are now entitled to information at pleasure and sometime
not even that: happy and fully reconciled to the present we are as it unfolds. I regret what Confucius said 551-479 BC back
we could not realize even in twenty first century almost 2500 years after his
death. What a great thought and a reality, both at work place and home. I do
not know how many are like me but feel their number is certainly not small.
This is the first and the greatest stress of superannuation that we do not
understand that we have retired and is a reason for entry of many oldies to the
old-age homes and living a stressful life among strangers. It is universal
human right of an individual to have his nuclear family where the couple is
supreme not someone else: everybody enjoys that period: we did and as in all
heights achieved, also has to have decline it is only the question of time and
understanding that matters in this aspect of life also, earlier one understands
better it is.
Workaholics
- a person who loves work and does too much of it, work goes deep into his
bones: after retirement, are more under stress than the normals and shirkers,
have seen many making their journey to His abode quicker perhaps than their
age. The best way to get rid of this stress is to devote time and energy to
health and self-welfare rather total self; must restore the routine one missed
for years together: change the routine you already have, healthy exercise,
morning and evening walks, healthy food, groom yourself: indulge in niceties of
life: date your spouse as you were doing in young days, take care of your dress
which people many a times neglect after retirement. One thing more develop your
sense of music and devotion to Almighty: YouTube is full of such intoxicating
music: if consumed by the soul with full involvement it will give you His
glimpse and a feeling that He is sitting beside you: a feeling of bliss and His
grace. If you have no taste for such a change: listen to the melodious songs of
your own choice, they would take you away from the place where you are to the
valleys, mountains, beautiful places full of snow, sea beaches, dance floors,
intoxicating parties and what not.
Morning
is wonderful period of the day for everybody more so for retired workaholics :
get up early in the morning: free yourself from the routine: enjoy a cup of tea
or coffee made to your taste in the company of the pearl of your life in a
corner of your home you like most, go for a morning walk together with your
spouse, if possible, even one is sufficient, wish everybody irrespective of
known or unknown whosoever you meet and get the greeting for yourself: talk to
everybody in a positive manner with his welfare in view and a broad smile on
your face, stroll or an hour so, amongst the seasonal flowers and birds, tress
and bushes: see how nature grows that too silently: on way back bring home milk, vegetables,
fruits, other necessities whatever you like: your half the day is practically
gone: now come to the dining table and enjoy your breakfast sumptuous in the
most beautiful company in the most relaxing manner. Evenings are equally wonderful enjoyable for
those who take care of themselves the way they like: a visit to religious place
or tinkle of glasses is wonderful. The world is full and ready to entertain you,
enjoy, get what you want, but do not be under stress.
"You
don't stop laughing when you grow old. You grow old when you stop
laughing."
George Bernard Shaw
A
man is born alone and he then is bothered about himself: his food, comfort,
weep, laughter, sleep, play, anger and everything where he is personally
concerned: so a retiree also becomes a baby as by then normally has finished
all his responsibilities so he should bother only on one thing that is how to
live happily and stress free like a child.
Finances,
if not sufficient, are a real cause of stress after retirement: there is no
effective and sufficient social security system in the country nor there is
established donor or charity system, one must plan while in the earning stage:
with much lower interest rates on savings deposits even built-up capital has
become largely immaterial. So one has work for a few chips even in the old age,
if need be. No Govt sponsored Old Age Home are available, however some
charitable old age home are there even they are not sufficient: they provide only
the basic amenities at the same time despite change in the thinking of the
society going to Old-Age home is not considered a good option. In this period
of high inflation this is real cause to think about. Question is how to manage
as at present. Nothing can be generalized: everybody has his own needs,
resources, nature, style, character, a sense of shyness or one can say shame
etc., one like to ask other is afraid of asking too.
After
superannuation health becomes an issue with many oldies: the reason being lot
of rest and food plus already inherited life style and other diseases carried
forward from the previous rung of the journey of life. What to do? Best and
most effective option is medical services provided by Govt without charges. We
are lucky to have been born in a country where medical attention for day to day
illness is available right from free to five star: it all depends on yourself
what type of services or attention you want and resources one has. This is in
case of health issue: but one should remain healthy not needing medical
attention in a hospital. Two fundamentals of health are food and exercise. Food
is health and disease also: keep your food healthy: quantity not more than
three fourths less of salt, sugar and fat: early diner an amount of fruit and
vegetable: nothing rigorous is required except one’s determination and will to
achieve. For exercise one is not required to go gym or an instructor: simple
walking at the pace one’s body can afford for 40 to 45 minutes in the morning
and evening too: Yoga if possible: meditation is optional. Yoga and meditation
are good both for physical as well as mental health: adopt both if you can.
Relax your body for 15 to 20 minute as if one is dead: it is good exercise with
health benefits. In nut shell, change food habits and exercise for health only
and restrict screen watching to an hour or so otherwise take medicine for
cervical pains, discomfort and wear collar on your neck.
"Retirement:
a time to enjoy all the things you never had time to do when you worked."
Catherine Pulisfer
Retirement
is blank sheet of paper. It is chance to redesign your life into something new
and different.
Patrick Foley
This
is the age of computers, internet, smart phones, what Sapp, Artificial
Intelligence, LED televisions and so many other things. Whenever there is
malfunctioning of any these things, first option available to correct is to
refresh and second option is to off the system and restart it: in ninety nine percent
cases it works and the system works well as we want. When these man made
computers and circuits can reset themselves so easily why can’t the God made
computer the man. Only thing, perhaps, is how efficiently the switch is
operated: operate it well, you have innumerable opportunities before you not
the one available to man-made computers. A man is never too old to reset this
switch, but operate it yourself with determination and will to do.
“You are never too old to set another goal or
to dream a new dream.”
C.S. Lewis
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