On Retirement

How people think about retirement can be totally different.

Most new retirees are joy filled, excited and happy about the prospect of retiring. Many retirees continue to work on various projects, even after retirement and thus never really retire. They certainly don't retire from life, as such.

For a moment, consider some examples of what one person not only thought, but said to a person in that age bracket.

"You are old; you just don't know it."

Oops, was that a blooper, or what?

The majority of people who are ready to retire, know exactly how old they are, unless they are medically or mentally incapacitated, in some way. Even then, they probably have some degree of awareness with respect to their age.

"Take that toothpick out of your mouth, before you hurt yourself with it."

Another blooper? Most new retirees know exactly what they are doing and yes, toothpicks are still in vogue for them. They are not highly likely to injure themselves with a toothpick.

"Get off pogey (social welfare) !" another person thought and stated in no uncertain terms, to an individual who was just retiring. "There are not enough of us young people to support all of you old fogies!"

While that may be true to some extent, in this day and age, someone about to retire has probably been working ever since he or she was young. That kind of thinking is totally unjustified.

"Get a job!" ordered another person, whose thoughts and feelings were expressed openly to a person who had just retired. "Don't expect us to support you."

"You can't live with us!"

The thoughts and feelings of the retirees in question were not taken into consideration, in any of these instances. In fact, the words demonstrate a lot of thoughtlessness.

What does this kind of thinking say about our thought processes?

We are capable of thinking and expressing kindly thoughts towards others, but can also choose to go the thoughtless route, where others are hammered with words that are the result of negative thought patterns.

"Downsize!" ordered another person, thoughtlessly. "Get rid of your books."

Now, when the retiree has time to read the books he or she has collected over the years, (but never had time to read), suddenly, he or she is ordered to dispose of them all.

"You don't need your old high school year books."

Right, they are only supposed to be read when you are a teenager.

"Get rid of all of those old photographs."

Ouch, that hurts! The retiree now has a chance to take a look at them and think fondly of his or her past. Memories no longer matter? Does all memory simply disappear upon retirement? Not quite!

A thoughtless person can do a lot of damage to the emotions and feelings of a new retiree. Their words and deeds can affect the thought processes of a retiree, in an adverse manner.

Thoughtless words spread like they are contagious.

"We don't celebrate birthdays after age 65."

"We don't visit retired people."

"Wonder where the retiree hid the assets accumulated over all those years?"

"Where shall we put that retiree out to pasture?"

"Children are more fun than retired people."

Retirees with a positive mind set are often able to overlook unkind thoughts, words and deeds of thoughtless people. They may not always forget them that quickly or easily, as the thought processes that we are endowed with, allow recall of thoughtlessness and unkindness.

It is a good thing that retirees have a good sense of humor. More about that another time.