Certainties in this uncertain world
The only thing certain about life is : it is uncertain.
We plan for the posterity and not a moment we are sure about.
Most of the uncertain things are beautiful and the certain dreadful. Life offers all the charm, romance, joy with its know-not-what's-going-to-be- next.
World sustains only on uncertainties-hopes, dreams, imagination.
I heard : 'Retirement from work is as certain as death'. I was shocked and found the comparison unkind. Meek, whisper like murmur submitted : 'It is more sad that retirement preceds death'. It left me aghast. I had never thought of retirement along those lines. With grey hair asserting and weight loss not much obliging and motivation levels lying low with little outcome, I was not really prepared for the hurt when queried: 'must be two three years left ? ' Took me a second to gulp down the quizzing as I found it very insulting like directly asking the age from a woman.
All working people, I feel, think a lot, plan so much for the life after retirement. Mostly it is in terms of financial investments, pension and medical plans, insurance policies, calculation of PF and PPF and pension plans. Do we really prepare ourselves for the real, heavy, mind boggling emotioanl upheavel which is immanent fall out of retirement ? I don't think so.
Hard to believe but it has been thirty one years that I have been working. Cannot imagine what my life could have been without my work. I have loved my work whether it was teaching or as a civil servant. It is a passion with me, mo gain saying the fact. On it hinges my life's meaning, significance and purpose. Literally with blood, sweat and tears I have worked, put my heart and soul into it. Such huge investment!! Naturally, once deprived of it, it is going to be catastrophe !
But o k a y, its fine... Life is more important than work, isn't it? Do we give life as much importance ? To healthy, happy, comforting, meaningful, joyous life? Life full of music and charm, grace and grandeur, substance and meaningfulness and not just full of 'looking before and after' and pining for 'what is not'. Honestly, there has never been much of time to give serious thought to it. And then it may be too late to 'think', they say.
Work is life force and I think, we are afraid of whole lot of time at our disposal and not having to go to place of work. Besides, its ageing, too that we are afraid of. As long as we are able to deliver, keep moving on, it is respectable and basis of our self esteem. But then handing over the whole of credit for our own esteem to the work that we do, perform is being unkind to ourselves. We, for sure, are important and must matter as such.
There is basic tendncy to do something worthwhile and remain busy like an ant so shall be even when the 'Governor is pleased to retire...'
Why should one wait for what is certain? It will come when it will. True, I am yet to visualise the place where life after retirement will be spent till His pleasure and what the living would be like. In course of time, this aspect, too would get addressed once the dye has been cast. Right now it feels good to live one day at a time and when each day passes joyously, contentedly and peacefully, its silent thankfulness to Him at the end of the day. Amidst horrifying revelations of what rough weather can do to multitude of humanity, this moment we breathe is the only certainty. Rest is only history in the making, isnt it?
The only thing certain about life is : it is uncertain.
We plan for the posterity and not a moment we are sure about.
Most of the uncertain things are beautiful and the certain dreadful. Life offers all the charm, romance, joy with its know-not-what's-going-to-be- next.
World sustains only on uncertainties-hopes, dreams, imagination.
I heard : 'Retirement from work is as certain as death'. I was shocked and found the comparison unkind. Meek, whisper like murmur submitted : 'It is more sad that retirement preceds death'. It left me aghast. I had never thought of retirement along those lines. With grey hair asserting and weight loss not much obliging and motivation levels lying low with little outcome, I was not really prepared for the hurt when queried: 'must be two three years left ? ' Took me a second to gulp down the quizzing as I found it very insulting like directly asking the age from a woman.
All working people, I feel, think a lot, plan so much for the life after retirement. Mostly it is in terms of financial investments, pension and medical plans, insurance policies, calculation of PF and PPF and pension plans. Do we really prepare ourselves for the real, heavy, mind boggling emotioanl upheavel which is immanent fall out of retirement ? I don't think so.
Hard to believe but it has been thirty one years that I have been working. Cannot imagine what my life could have been without my work. I have loved my work whether it was teaching or as a civil servant. It is a passion with me, mo gain saying the fact. On it hinges my life's meaning, significance and purpose. Literally with blood, sweat and tears I have worked, put my heart and soul into it. Such huge investment!! Naturally, once deprived of it, it is going to be catastrophe !
But o k a y, its fine... Life is more important than work, isn't it? Do we give life as much importance ? To healthy, happy, comforting, meaningful, joyous life? Life full of music and charm, grace and grandeur, substance and meaningfulness and not just full of 'looking before and after' and pining for 'what is not'. Honestly, there has never been much of time to give serious thought to it. And then it may be too late to 'think', they say.
Work is life force and I think, we are afraid of whole lot of time at our disposal and not having to go to place of work. Besides, its ageing, too that we are afraid of. As long as we are able to deliver, keep moving on, it is respectable and basis of our self esteem. But then handing over the whole of credit for our own esteem to the work that we do, perform is being unkind to ourselves. We, for sure, are important and must matter as such.
There is basic tendncy to do something worthwhile and remain busy like an ant so shall be even when the 'Governor is pleased to retire...'
Why should one wait for what is certain? It will come when it will. True, I am yet to visualise the place where life after retirement will be spent till His pleasure and what the living would be like. In course of time, this aspect, too would get addressed once the dye has been cast. Right now it feels good to live one day at a time and when each day passes joyously, contentedly and peacefully, its silent thankfulness to Him at the end of the day. Amidst horrifying revelations of what rough weather can do to multitude of humanity, this moment we breathe is the only certainty. Rest is only history in the making, isnt it?
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