I have already reached the threshold of senior age, but not yet the mandatory retirement age of 65. And retirement is not in my radar for now. Because, I like to reckon, entering the senior age or retiring at 65 should NOT mean letting go of work or halting on your dreams.
What I have let gone, even early as some 15 years ago, is having a daily fixed-time worksite job for eight hours in lieu of out-of-office discretionary-time job. Before reaching 50, I decided to quit my on-campus college teaching job in favor of my passion for writing as well as facilitating training workshops.
To drive home my point, hence, retirement should not necessarily be a turning point to stop working, be idle, or switching off from striving your dreams. More importantly, it is simply a matter of avoiding or having LESS STRESS, doing things that are of interest to you at a more leisurely pace, and continue living your dreams.
Nah, retiring is not becoming invisible or insignificant. Fr. Ranhilio Aquino, who even after his retirement age has continued being the Dean of San Beda University’s Graduate School of Law as well as with his passion of teaching philosophy and theology, has this to say: “To retire is to close one chapter and open another. One has only oneself to blame if by retirement one becomes invisible, insignificant, inconsequential – and the reason is simple: I know my worth…It is very much a matter of making oneself useful and productive in one’s later years.
For many retirees, however, they have difficulty in finding a sense of purpose and meaning in their lives after they’ve left the workforce – and this can lead to feelings of depression, anxiety, and loneliness.
So, how can one invest happiness in their retirement years?
Andrew Rosen, in his article on forbes.com, offers the following “7 Ways To Be happier When You Retire”:
1. Find purpose and meaning in retirement. The key to finding purpose and meaning in retirement is to focus on your passions and interests. What makes you happy? What do you enjoy doing? What have you always wanted to try but never had the time for?
2. Stay active and healthy. Staying active and healthy is essential for your physical and mental well-being in retirement.
3. Cultivate positive relationships. Retirement is the perfect time to reconnect with old friends and make new ones. It’s also important to maintain the relationships you already have. Make time for your family and friends, and stay connected with them through regular phone calls, emails, or visits.
4. Learn new things and pursue hobbies. Retirement is the perfect time to learn new things and pursue hobbies you’ve always been interested in. Learning new things can help you stay mentally sharp and engaged with the world around you.
5. Volunteer and give back to your community. Volunteering is a great way to give back to your community and make a positive impact on the world around you. It can also bring a sense of purpose and meaning to your life in retirement.
6. Travel and explore new places. Retirement is the perfect time to travel and explore new places. Whether it’s visiting a new country or simply exploring your own backyard, travel can bring a sense of adventure and excitement to your life in retirement.
7. Manage your finances and reduce stress. It’s important to manage your finances carefully and plan for the future to reduce stress and ensure a comfortable retirement. In addition, it’s important to reduce stress in other areas of your life, like prayer and meditation.
In sum, retirement after all is not fading away. “No, fading away is not my understanding of life. The day will come when, like all mortal flesh, I shall fade away – but until that time, I shall be very much part of the land of the living!” Fr. Ranhilio Aquino added.
Aptly true, indeed, because a happy and meaningful life is a never-ending enterprise.
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