Best of Ojeagbase

–– A Retiree’s Worst Enemy

Retirement is something you should look forward to, if you plan for it. But, as I’ve made clear in my previous articles on this subject, whether or not you prepare for it, retirement is inevitable. A time will come in your life when you’ll either retire from work voluntarily or be forced to retire.

Since retirement is a destination you’re driving towards each passing day, it makes sense to plan for it. Good preparation will forestall some of the avoidable problems that some people face when they retire. Like loneliness, for instance.

Loneliness, according to a dictionary, is the state of being alone in solitary isolation. If that definition does not send a chill down your spine, then you ought to get a doctor to check your pulse.

One of the most terrible things that could happen to any person is to be kept in isolation. That’s why prison is one of the most dreaded places for people who love their freedom. You can then imagine what would happen to you if you have to endure solitary isolation when you’re retired. It’s better imagined than experienced!

What can you do to guard against it? The first step is to understand what being isolated really means in practical terms. And maybe I should paint a couple of word pictures for you to bring you face to face with the stark reality of what it is.

Let’s start from when you’re still working. You’re an out-going person. So you have friends and colleagues with whom you socialize. There was never a dull moment or a drab weekend for you. You’re either in the company of your friends at the club or having fun somewhere.

Or, maybe you’re a believer. You’re a member of a church and you play an active part in your church’s activities. Everything is going great for you because the spring in your feet is still bouncing. That is all well and good.

But then a day arrives that changes all that. It’s the day after you’re retired. Your schedules are suddenly altered. When people are going to work, you’ve no work to go to. So you sit around. And when you’re tired of sitting, you jump on your bed and try to catch some sleep.

After a week of doing that, it starts to get at you. The hours between when people –– your friends that you socialize with –– are away at work while you’re alone at home appears to drag on forever. While the ones working feel that the day is too short –– there’s not enough time to do all that is needed to do, they complain –– you moan about how the day seems to be crawling.

Before long, boredom will set in. Next thing you know, you’ll start losing interest in life. In a short while, your picture will be gracing posters in your neighbourhood. Yes, that’s your obituary that is being announced!

That is the experience of the lucky retiree who didn’t plan for that stage of his or her life. The other example is even worse.

The case of this other retiree who didn’t plan ahead for his retirement is really pathetic. His after work experience is the same as the first type, except that, in his own case, he also has a debilitating ailment that renders him useless … even to himself.

Because of his poor health condition, he cannot be up and doing. That means he cannot eat when he should, even if he has the money. Who will prepare the food? He’s always at the mercy of others. A terrible experience, if ever there was one.

Of course, death will soon come calling. And that will be the end of the journey. And on a sad note, of course.

Could all this be avoided? Yes, it could and I’ll explain how. But before I do, it’s important for you to know exactly what these examples of retirees did wrong. Or what they failed to do.

The one big thing they did wrong, which is a common mistake that most every one makes, is that they didn’t see it coming. It never occurred to them that such a time lies waiting for them somewhere around the corner. Or maybe they did but couldn’t careless about it.

If you see it coming, and realize that it could be as bad as I’ve painted it, or even worse, then you ought to take steps to prevent it from happening to you when it’s still within your power to do so. And here is how you go about it, starting from today if you are not already doing so.

1. Love the people around you genuinely, especially members of your immediate family

This is one area where most people who find themselves without love in the latter stages of their lives miss it. They fail to plant the seed of love. And when it’s time for them to harvest love in return, they reap loneliness instead.

A law that works inexorably, whether you know it or not, is the law of reciprocity. Whatever we do will bring us the same measure in return, good or bad. With this law in mind, extra care must be taken to express genuine love to every one around you.

The return from such investment is huge, especially when you’re retired and growing old.

2. Develop interest in your spouse’s interests

One of life’s true blessings, in my opinion, is for a couple to live in love and deep understanding into the twilight of their lives. After the children have grown up and are away looking after themselves, there’s nothing to take the place of having your partner by your side, looking back into your lives together and having wonderful memories of life’s ups and downs that you shared together.

The only way you can enjoy this gift is to work hard at it. You should cultivate the habit of taking genuine interest in your spouse’s interests. Let your partner know by your consistent action that you really love him or her.

If you can achieve that, you will not be stranded when you’re advancing in age, until when death separates you.

3. Investigate several post-retirement activities and settle for one that appeals to you

Don’t wait until after your retirement before you settle for a post retirement activity that will ensure that you’re not lonely.

For example, you could decide to sow into the lives of younger people in your community. But without a specialized knowledge that you’ve developed carefully while you were working, which would be beneficial to them, it’ll be too late for you to start learning one after your retirement.

4. Set money aside for this stage of your life

Although I’ve emphasized this in my previous articles, it wouldn’t hurt if I repeat it here. Your need for financial bouyancy at this critical stage of your life is so crucial that you need to give it the serious attention that it requires now while you’re still working.

Apart from food, there will be medical bills to pay. Your body that has taken so much beating in the process of earning your living, would require more attention now than ever before. Without money, you’ll not be able to rise to that demand.

Thinking ahead of this period and making adequate preparation by investing intelligently is the best route to take.

Commercial buildings and landed properties in choice locations and shares in stocks that have a fair chance of withstanding occasional market corrections as well as government bonds and some cash in fixed deposit are options to consider.

Of course, if you have the flair for it, you should invest in business ideas that your instinct and due financial analysis tell you has a chance of survival. Even then, be sure that you have confidence in the people operating the business and that their level of competence and integrity is high. Otherwise you may come to needless grief.

5. Develop the habit of enjoying fellowship with GOD

Having a relationship with GOD, in my carefully considered opinion, is the ultimate preparation you can make for your life after retirement.

And the way to have a relationship with GOD is to develop the habit of felowshipping with Him. Even when no one is around to keep you company, you will find that His Word, the living Word in the Bible, will keep you company and give you hope.

If the Word is dwelling in you richly, you’ll even be able to overcome those old age symptons which are the scourge of many retirees.

These five things are not what you leave till some time later. It’s what you should start doing from today.