Thursday 3 November 2011

Retirement not the end of the road


            I superannuated from the Indian Army after serving for thirty three years. Today, I am working in a voluntary organization – not that I need to but because I want to. There are many lucky people like me. On the contrary, there are other retirees who are not so lucky. Rising costs of living, unfulfilled domestic obligations, deficient financial planning and ever-increasing expenditures on health care, to name just a few, prompt people to work after retirement.
            It is the wearer who knows where the shoe pinches. Likewise, only retired personnel alone can comprehend feelings of blues and dejection, mental agony and exhaustion elderly employees suffer as their day of retirement nears.
In the light of the above, it is no wonder that people start looking for post-retirement jobs much before they physically superannuate. As potential job hunters, people prepare their resumes and post them on websites, attend rehabilitation programmes, participate in counseling sessions, boost networking efforts and last but not the least, are on the lookout for suitable jobs.
            If retiring employees were to be asked what they thought of their present, most of them would admit to not being able to life as they dreamt or visualized. They do not realize that such feelings silently, perhaps unknowingly compel them to deal with unexpected situations and challenges thrown up by them.
            As a retired individual but still working and doing so passionately, I would say this to elderly job hunters:
·  Never ever let your enthusiasm and zeal subside.
·  You retired from your last job, but not from life.
·  Rekindle your earlier passion that for various reasons you could not pursue.
·  At this stage of life, it is gainful employment that matters.
·  The pleasure of a job by itself would far surpass that of remuneration.
More often than not, attempts to look for a job in the same sphere where you served for three or more decades do not necessarily bear fruit. Employers want staff that has flexible mindsets. Hence it is always advisable to avoid taking up re-employment in any setup where you may be regarded as rigid and overage to bring about an alteration to course.
Post retirement period is the best to look at a fresh career, even if it is a revolutionary one. It is the best time to do something that one has always envisaged doing. The days of woolgathering and stargazing should be regarded as over. Giving shape to your dreams should be the priority.
During ancient times, a person’s lifespan was categorized into four distinct periods – Brahmcharya (Celibacy & Learning), Grihastha (Householder’s Life), Vanaprastha (Retreat or Hermit’s Life) and Sanyaasa (Renunciation). These stages or ashrams as they were called are no more valid today. The trend that has prevailed since the last four decades or even earlier is that barring the initial period of Brahmcharya, all other stages have merged. People seek to experience the pleasures associated with learning, work and play for as long as possible, lifelong to be precise.
But there is another angle to the above. When young, people dream of retired lives as ones of contentment and relaxation. Such dreams are actually dreams in the current day context. It would be rather presumptuous and even impractical on every individual’s part to envision or regard post-retirement life as one of relaxation or leisure activity. So, everybody needs to shed such a fallacious approach at the earliest because one does not know the compulsions of time.
It is rather difficult for employees who have been overlooked for promotion and due for retirement to have the same degree of motivation as their other colleagues. It goes without saying that retirement perks are always in consonance with the current appointment. Similar is the case with those who are disgruntled and shifted to insignificant posts. But it is very important to alter such mindsets and make the best out of everything possible. And the maiden step to achieve this is to break mental barriers that may exist.
One needs to be amenable to the suggestion that working, learning and play can coexist, even if one advances in age. And if such a transformation takes place, a realization would dawn that re-employment:
·  Opens up doors to a new world that provides direction. It also leads to fulfillment of aspirations that are in consonance with own morals, ethics and principles.
·  Offers you a motive and a rationale to get out of bed early as also a commune of like to work in. It ought to be remembered that feelings of seclusion associated with old age can be disastrous.
·  Keeps you active and robust. Good health follows and it by itself begets happiness and cheer.
·  Provides a chance to interact with young people and in the process prove to them that aging does not increase rigidity, decrease utility, reduce efficiency and cutback ingenuity.
·  Keeps you occupied for the better. Statistics have shown that people who take up work after retirement invariably outlive those who elect to be put out to pasture.
            The first step referred above is the only step. Thereafter, the feet move forward automatically. One thus inaugurates a new and worthwhile career. So, go ahead and break all mental barriers.

             


No comments:

Post a Comment