Retirement is here, now, what do I need to do, to have, the needed fulfillment??? Translated…
I’d received the notice of my retirement in effect now, and yet, my biological clock is not yet, adjusted, I’d waken up in a daze at 6:30 in the morn every day still. Without the ringing from my alarm now, like the old friend whom I’d kept for over thirty years, knowing that you’re, alive and well, but never called again.
After the honeymoon phase of my retirement was over, the tempos of my life started, steadying. I wake in the morn, made my own breakfasts, skimmed through the online news, cleaning the house a bit, heading out to the park to stretch, then, I’d, taken up a foreign language on my own. In the afternoon, I’d read, written, settled down, with the light music in the background, enjoying life in the moment. When early evening arrives, I’d taken that stroll into the setting sun, and enjoyed the beauty of nature’s gifts, and introspected, on my way of self-discovery now. And on the weekends, I’d gone to the religious organizations and volunteered, treating myself kind, loving others too, is the best gift of retirement for my own, self.
things to do after retirement…illustration from UDN.com
Looking at the friends around me who are also, retired, they’re all living in fulfillment, traveling, hiking, or looking after their grandchildren. My classmate, A, after he’d stepped down from his position at work, shaved his head, and he’d looked like the movie star, Bruce Willis. He is well-deserved of the nickname too, to fulfill the dreams of challenging himself, he’d flown overseas to Europe, to the America alone on trips for one, everything from booking the airfares, the hotel stays, he’d done on his own. Seeing how he’d shared the incredible journeys abroad: bungee jumping, parachuting, scuba diving, venturing deep into the forest to visit the tribes, watching the sunset by the cliffs, a ton of activities he did were so, breathtaking, so thrilling, and I can’t help but feel awe of his boldness and daring, nature.
Some friends took courses in community college, to find that interest, sharing the products of what they’d produced, entertaining themselves, and making, new friends. A few of my male classmates started a biker gang, riding from north to south, they’d trekked to the northern coastlines, the southern most beach of Kenting, the way they looked, so full of confidence, straddling on their motorcycles, glowing of the confidence that can only be found with the years they’d experienced.
As I gathered with friends, they’d mentioned, that she saw on FB, that after people retired, they’d traveled all over the places, had a lot of fun, that her life was too ordinary in comparison, that she’d felt, ashamed. Actually, as I just retired, I’d felt, a bit, lost too, tried an assortment of outdoors activities, expanded my new social circle, learned the skills out of my comfort zone, at first, I was full of zest, purchased all the equipment, and yet, all the activities don’t fit my personality, I can’t find anything to enjoy, and in the end, I’d, gotten, defeated.
I’d told my friend, that after retirement, he should follow his own heart, be one’s own master. If he has the dreams, chase them; no plans, then, just work hard, living every day to the fullest. Pursuing of happiness, of health, is actually a very, realistic, goal, do what you’re good at, live life to the way you like it, the ordinary days, will become, fuller and more, colorful for you.
things we can do…travel…photo from online
The paths after retirement, there seemed to be too many choices to select from, the roads that you followed others to go down, may not be fitting for you. At our age, the most important lesson is, looking back to find the mistakes that we’d learned from, having that new thought for the times up ahead, see what’s best fitting to you, defining life based off of your own, self.
Retirement is the point of origin for the self-discoveries, no matter which way you choose, in the end, you will, return back to your, comfort zone. The people with varied personalities have the different choices, there’s no one-size-fit all. The changes of quality of life that comes with retirement, may be colorful like the rainbow, or it may be serene, peaceful like that lake. The rainbow will, eventually, vanish, while the lake will always, reflect the peaceful blue, skies. Don’t be afraid, that life is going to be too boring, using your hearts to pass the days, although you may not have the adventures, you will, shine through, just the, same.
So unfortunately, there’s still, NO one-size-fit-all for what qualifies as a fulfilled life after retirement, because we all have different personality traits, and what works for me, may not, work for you, the important thing is find that hobby, and just, pursue it, whether it be learning new things, reading, or whatever, just find something to do, keep on being, productive that’s the key to stay happy and healthy even after we, retired.