Do you ever wonder what happens when a person retires? For the most part, for the average individual, all the holds come off — the pressure of the daily office or factory grind stops. It is replaced with a sense of elation and freedom. The question quickly becomes, however, how do you replace the excitement of working life? Yes, a fearful and stressful life, but one filled with a sense of power and accomplishment.
This is especially true for men because we identify our manliness or existence with our work — or if we are fortunate, with our careers. This has now stopped and our raison d’être, our being, has been removed. How can this be replaced? Studies show that this is not easy. (1) We flail around searching for a reason to exist. Golf is a poor substitute.
Many pundits suggest that if we want to live to 100, we must never retire and keep our dental health. What is the rationale behind this statement? The retirement aspect is easy — we have a natural sense of busyness. If this is suddenly removed by a lack of purpose or inaction, we psychologically die. The dental part is because our mouth is the only open vector of poison, potentially, entering our corporeal being. If we have poor dental hygiene, we invite bacteria to enter it. Our teeth do not have to be beautiful, just healthy.
Let us take another scenario: what if we are forced to retire and our job ends abruptly, what are we to do? We must develop a routine on our own. Start by getting up at a prescribed time, making your bed, saying your prayers, and writing in your notebook. Give yourself a beginning and a purpose. Remember: No matter how you feel, wake up, get up, clean up, and show up — never give up! (2)
Something that is truly missed as we age is the fact that the world needs us. It needs us to impart what we have learned in life and be a good role model to our friends, our family, and our society. Many older people are now totally abrogating that responsibility. This may be because of ennui, or fatigue, but probably it is because of fear. Many of the elderly are so consumed with dying and not being productive that they give themselves mental inertia. This is where order is extremely necessary. An ongoing routine will greatly assist in this task. William Makepeace Thackeray (3) leaves us with a thought: Successful people aren’t born that way. They become successful by establishing the habit of doing things unsuccessful people don’t like to do.
A closing thought: We can truly change no one in life. The only person I can change is myself. This is in my habits, my inner thoughts, my outlook on life, my demeanor, and my actions. If you do a sincere job, people will respond accordingly.
To sum up: This week, we spoke about establishing a routine and why it is so necessary in life.
To be noted: From Ray Charles (4) — There are none so blind as those who cannot see.
Just for fun: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3io4Rv1Yvo&ab_channel=DWClassicalMusic
For reflection: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_rBOGP37Mg&ab_channel=PhiloNautica
This week, on your regular walk, please ponder on what a routine means to you.
Every day look for something magical and beautiful.
Don’t be a wage slave – critical thinking is great!
Quote: Every day make your bed!
Footnotes:
1) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QOGNOhN35o&ab_channel=RobBerger
2) https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/10/17/never-give-up
3) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Makepeace_Thackeray
4) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggGzE5KfCio&ab_channel=RayCharles