'Look after yourself' was the best advice I received this week at a colleague's retirement party. It is rare to get an invitation to a retirement party in the technology industry, given it employs one of the youngest workforce in the world. It's not that I have never seen anyone retiring from IT before, but all those were either CEOs or top management who you see and listen to from a distance or virtually, nothing close up and personal.
As usual, I was excited to attend the after-work retirement party for the sheer joy of meeting and bidding farewell to my dear colleague in person. I was clueless about the general etiquette of a British retirement party. However, I was relieved that the gathering was informal, making way for merriment. I loved every minute of the party, the ambiance, the food, the crowd, and the host. Although we worked together only for a few months, his wealth of knowledge, experience, and wisdom helped me immensely. I will miss him for the above but more as an elderly figure who supported and encouraged me when the going got tough.
At the party, the masterstroke and the limelight of the evening was an articulated speech punctuated with humour and words of wisdom. His precious advice 'Look after yourself. If you are not well in every respect, you will be unable to enjoy life or support anyone else', leaving a profound impact on me. For the next few minutes, he helped us understand how he planned for his retirement after working for 41 years in various industries. He illustrated how his work life was glorious because of the people around him. He explained why and how one should enjoy what one does. At times, move on to a different area, field, or industry instead of moaning and making more mess for oneself and those around. Lastly, he emphasized the importance of good health for oneself, one's family, and teammates. They are all supporters of one's good mental, physical, and financial health. It was a lot to understand, grasp, and ponder for my little brain.
I was keenly listening to his post-retirement plans. The usual ones -helping with housework, ironing, caring for grandchildren, playing golf, and traveling. The unusual ones were volunteering for ambulance services that take patients to hospitals. Volunteer to maintain and repair wheelchairs. I found this an intriguing activity. The prospectus of using his experience in mechanical and other industries to help fix wheelchairs for the hospital was alluring to him and surprising to me. I was delighted to know how excited he was to start his new life after years of working 9-5.
On my way back, I pondered every word he said that I could remember and understand. Besides the prospects of the joys of retirement, there was a deep sense of satisfaction. There was the confidence to do something valuable, to contribute to society, to enjoy the fruits of hard work, and to cherish people and experience. What hammered home was the basis of all this was good physical, mental, and financial health.
I once again realized the generations before me were (are) frugal, rooted in their values and principles. They take a lot of things into consideration before making any small or big decisions like retirement. And most important, they had the cushioning of state pension. I can't confidently say if my or any future generations will have the last one. The coming generations might be smarter and faster than any previous ones. But I have bleak hope of any state paying for necessities free of cost. At times, I doubt if any state(country) will be left with any money in the future, given the current world order. The prospects of a happy, healthy, and wealthy (optimistically) retirement will largely depend on how well we look after ourselves.
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