By Nissar. H. Gilani
The day after I retired from government service at the age of 58 years. I was overwhelmed by lot of Warm retirement wishes. Many of the well wishers and friends sent greeting cards, other mailed them and many expressed through phone calls, some called me personally.
A dear friend gifted me a pen with a beautiful card, written with the message as,
“ May you always have work for your hand’s to do. May your pockets hold always. A coin or two. May the sun shine bright on your window pane. May the rainbow be certain to follow exit rain. May the hand of a friend always be near you.
And may god fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.
The pen you gifted me when I retired is fantastic. I am using it now to write this massage to you, it writes so well. I will remember your kindness, I replied. Another very dear friend called me on phone,
Hi Nissar!
“I am glad that you are finally retiring, congratulation on your new freedom.
I replied him, “yes my retirement is finally here! But what next? Have you given a thought to how you are going to spend the next 20-30 years of your life in retirement? He added during the long telephone conversation. No, I have not, I said. You may have choices; enjoy life to its fullest, relax, watch TV, read the newspaper from start to end, chat with friends, eat and drink what and when you want, play games, window shop, go to exotic places, offer five time prayers.
But I can’t spend all my retired life like this. I am sure I won’t enjoy them forever, except Neemaz. I need to engage in other activities also that provide a purpose, challenge, adventure, and a feeling of accomplishment, happiness and satisfaction.
He agreed to my reply.
Days passed on, and friend’s and well-wishers, kept on lecturing me how to spend my time judiciously in retirement.
Some of the most loving thought provoking massages from many of well wishers were as,
You have worked hard for so many year’s, you deserve to relax and take it easy for a change enjoy it.
As a student, you wanted to become a doctor, could not. During employment you were so busy in public service. As a parent you were busy raising family and providing for your child’s education. You did well on may accounts, but missed the aptitude to understand questions like who you were, and why we are here.
Now since you have retired from state obligations, retirement gives you an ample opportunity to discover the real purpose of life and purse activities that express your true self.
One of the friend who had retired from government services, a decade before my sapurnation, gifted a book, titled “Refire do not retire” by ken Blanchard and morton shaevitz, which was barrowed by another friend, who never bothered it to return till date.
Days turned into weeks and into months, the retirement lectures decreased with the passage of time but the most important letter that came from a learned friend remained a source of guidance in the next phase of my life and continues, to inspire me even now after having completed 18 years of nearly lived post retirement life. The letter read as.
My Dear Nissar !
Congratulation on a standout-career and best wishes, now celebrate your retirement with working now for those causes you have always believed in. There is an endless number of ways you can help make this world a more beautiful, lovable and peaceful place with likeminded people. Pursue one or more of these purposes in your retirement, helping, the needy, doing social work and community networking promoting an environmental cause, starting a care centre for the elderly, conserving heritage, writing a book, inventing something useful and translating inspiring literature from one language to another. Sometimes you may even spend some money from your own pocket to benefit others. Remember there is no joy like the joy of serving humanity. Stay blessed.
Nissar H.Gilani can be reached at nisargilani57748@gmail.com
