Sailen Mukherjee (India, 07/07/10)

Retirement is the best gift in life provided one knows how to utilize the time fruitfully for the benefit of his family, society and the nation.

Superannuation from service gives freedom to the retiree from the bondage of official duties to lead a hassle free life.

It does not mean that one should be oblivious about value of time vis-a-vis its positive utilization.

First of all one should chalk out a time schedule for doing things which have remained ignored due to pressure of job commitment. These are:

Ø       Morning exercise coupled with yoga to take care of his physical as well as spiritual health. This may be followed by morning or evening walk.

Ø        Sipping a cup of tea or coffee with the day’s Newspaper in hand or watching News on TV so as be abreast with what is happening in the country or in the world.

Ø       To inculcate a hobby like gardening, practicing or playing music, or painting, or photography, or reading/ writing or home decoration or cooking depending on his personal liking/inherent talent. There is no age bar for manifestation/nurturing inherent talent as evidenced from the fact that Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore started painting at the age of sixty and his paintings are now auctioned at international level. Gardening may be kitchen gardening or flower gardening or sapling decorative plants or maintaining a lush green lawn. This may be done in one’s own house or within the residential complex of his housing society. The joy one gets when fruits or vegetables appear on the trees tendered by him or flower blooms or plants with lawns become pleasing to the eyes, can not be expressed in words.

Ø       Rearing a pet animal like dog or bird watching. A pot of water with a small plate of handful of grains or broken pieces of biscuits kept in the courtyard attracts different species of birds throughout the day movement of whom is a pleasure to watch. This is also good from ecological point of view.

Ø       One most important as well as beneficial tool is the computer with internet facility. One can socialize with near and dear ones living at far off places via e mails. Social net working sites like Face book, Twitter or Orkut are also good for keeping touch with friends or expressing one’s views. Surfing the internet for gaining knowledge on any subject of one’s choice, be it Science, Art or Sight seeing places is also a good idea.

Ø       Playing of indoor games like carom/Ludo/ crossword puzzles/Sudoku with family members especially grand children are not only a good past time but also strengthens bond amongst all.

Ø       Regular story telling session with the kids to familiarize them with teaching of our scriptures like Veda, Ramayana, Mahabharata as well as Indian Art and Culture.

Ø       Leave aside some time for cleaning the society complex or in and around of the residential complex.

Ø       Time should also be devoted, say once in a week, for imparting education to the   underprivileged or boosting spirits of aged/ailing persons by paying a visit to the Children’s homes, Blind school society and Senior citizens’ hostel.

Ø       Routine socializing with friends and relatives is also a good past time.

Let me now conclude my writing with the following quote:

“The key to retirement is to find joy in the little things.”- Susan Miller