Golden Life: Happy Life After Retirement

One tends to think that after retirement, one is nearing the end of the road. No , it need not be. It could, instead, be the beginning of the best years of life. A person who retires will have to face two major problems- how to minimize expenses and how to occupy himself. In practice , this change will affect the women of the house- in her role as wife . So planning for a life of retirement is as important as planning for a career or marriage. What are the basic points to think of before retirement?The major one concerns the mind and health. Developing some degree of detachment is helpful.'Retired' doesn't mean old and inefficient. You are retiring to pave the way for younger persons. Think who will look after you after you retire? The Government or the company from which you retired, or your neighborhood or relatives? None of them. Ultimately it is your family that will take care of you. So it is always wise to consult your family in all matters. Mr.C.Northcote-Parkinson has classified retired people under five categories.

1) The matured individual. Adaptable and realistic, he takes a constructive view of the situation.

2) The rocking-chair individual who leans on others and is inclined to take life easily.

3) The armoured individual. Highly disciplined, strong willed , he wants to remain active and always 'The Boss'.

4) The angry individual who keeps blaming everyone for everything.

5) The self - hating individual who withdraws into himself and blames himself for all his misfortunes.

If categories 2,3,4 and 5 are unprepared for their retirement, they will soon feel a vacuum and end up making themselves and others unhappy. Mature individuals, on the other hand, will take a positive attitude to retirement, lead a happy life and make their family happy , too. Retirement is not something that everyone has to come to terms with. A housewife has terms with. A housewife has no retirement. Doctores, business persons, lawyers and film artistes always seem to be working. After retirement, you will be surrounded by different age groups in the family and in the neighborhood. Irrespective of what you and your attitudes were before , you should start adjusting yourself to everything and everybody around. The maxims for a peaceful retired life are:

1) Be a good listener .You should not always talk about yourself , your office life and  what you used to do. You should allow others to talk. By careful listening and helpful suggestions now and then, you would make yourself a good adviser to the young at home.

2) Avoid the temptation to be always critical. Everyone has ideas and if you find fault with everything, you run the risk of becoming unpopular in your own house. You may involve yourself in family affairs, but should not interfere.

3) Be affable and develop contacts with your neighbors and family members instead of dominating.

4) Show interest in your family and make the members feel important. Encourage them and learn to appreciate them, their work, their role in the family. This will help you establish a closer link and intimacy with them and gain their respect.

5) Outward appearance is always important. Do not look shabby or sad just because you are retired. You can always be the smart guy by dressing well. Remember you are ' retired' not 'tired'.

6) Keep yourself healthy. Prior to retirement have a thorough medical checkup and , if any symptoms of ailment are there, have them treated in time and have followup even. Fix the diet in consultation with the doctor.

7) Engage yourself in a recreational activity or develop a hobby which will enable you to occupy yourself after retirement.

Think of the plight of those who have to work till the end laborers,coolies,cooks and so on - and of those who retire on a low pension. Compared with them , are you not better off?