I have always looked towards retirement with great expectation. Retirement to me is finding time and resource to do such work which will help me actualise desires of my life without expecting back money or honour. It is a freedom from our necessity to work for living, for food, cloth and shelter. It is ability to devote my time and energy in works that has been closest to my heart. It means working and spending my time for sake of love for the work, for sake of happiness and contentedness from the realisation that I am part of that creation which is free from compulsion of finishing a job. Instead I am bonded to desire for finishing the job because of love for finishing that job. Thus retirement to me is not getting freedom from work, but entering that sphere of life where I can devote to such work where I can give hundred percent of my time and energy.
While I was in Afghanistan, my boss retired. I drafted a letter on occasion of his retirement, but failed to send it because I had second thought about its appropriateness. I am reproducing it now, and if he happens to see this, let me tell you this is straight from heart. Comments are welcome on the appropriateness of the letter.
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Dated :- 29.11.2006
Place :- Zaranj, Afghanistan.
Dear Sir,
As you embrace your new phase of life, that leisurely phase of your long and active life, a period of life that you can control its pace, decide its texture and fill it with whatever colour you wish to fill it with, I wish you all the happiness and contentment that life can bestow.
We as a human have a finite life, but the joy and happiness that life gives is infinite. It is not only the number of years that counts, but what counts more is how much love, joy and happiness one derives along the path of his life.
More than what you have done and achieved, is how and why you have done that defines one’s contentment.
May you live your life with contented heart, tranquil mind and still soul. May you find happiness and joy in each day of of your retired life.
Your’s Sincerely,
Dani Salu.
2 comments:
Hi DS,
That was a lovely one... I guess, any person at the edge of retirement would certainly keep a second thought, some..maybe third. But, with such a letter...I suppose your boss might have retired the very next day. :)
You never know how much joy you miss...just because that you're working rather than just living the life at its fullest!!
:)
Regards
Rome
Hi RM, Thanks for the encouraging comment.
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