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Family Life Education Series |
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Most people will go through the stage of retirement in their career life. According to a worldwide survey by a commercial bank recently, Hong Kong people consider health, sound budgeting and family essential for a happy post-retirement life.
In the past few years, the Force lost about 750 to 850 staff members through natural wastage every year. For those who are retiring, they might have mixed feelings towards retirement, expecting its arrival but with ambivalence of refusing to let go the status quo. Their mixed feelings evolved as a result of their work-life evaluation and at the same time the anxiety towards the uncertainty in the future. Anyhow, they should feel relieved as they no longer need to worry about the ups and downs of their work anymore. Please see below how Mr Wong Chung-kwong, Chairman of Board of Advisers, Whole Person Development Institute, view the topic of "Life after Retirement", as a conclusion of this series. Let's think about this question: What comes after retirement? To many people the answer is a bleak and miserable one. My answer is a straightforward and factual one. For the average person, what comes after retirement is 20 to 30 years of life! According to the most recent statistics, the average man in Hong Kong can expect to live up to 78 or 79 years of age and the average woman up to 84 or 85 years, and that is whether you like it or not, and whether you live happily or not! Those 20 or 30 years of life should be happy, fulfilling and without regret. Those 20 or 30 years should not merely be "life" but "quality life". From the psychology point of view, the hallmark of a quality life is one that is purposeful, active and balanced. "Purposeful" refers to a sense of direction. The most important basis of purpose is value, i.e. purpose guided by the values that one upholds. "Active" refers to the full range of meaningful activities: hobbies, leisure activities, sports, socialising with friends, looking after grandchildren, travelling, voluntary work, studies or even a second career. "Balanced" refers to meeting the needs of an individual physically, mentally and socially. Preparation for retirement is a must. That is not a new thing to say. Just look at all the different retirement investment plans! What many people tend to forget is that preparation is not just financial but also physical, emotional, psychological and even ethical! "Physical" means we have to keep physically healthy and fit. To achieve that it is crucial to start early in life: healthy diet, good exercise and no undesirable habits! "Emotional" means keeping internal harmony and good interpersonal relationship. "Psychological" means positive outlook, creative thinking and effective problem solving. "Ethical" means abiding by ethical standard that will ensure we stand tall. To cut a long story short, there is a golden test that you may try out on yourself to see how well you may be prepared for retirement. Look inward. Can you find a child in you? Each of us has a child in our heart. That child is you! Keep that child young and true, and full of joy, fun and love, and we will stay young and be prepared for 20 to 30 years of wonderful life. If you have lost that child or that child has become old, lonely or miserable, you will grow old. I know people (and I am sure you too) who seem to have a lot before retirement, and they become very lonely and feel lost after retirement. Retirement should not be a prelude to misery or death! Retirement should be harvesting time and also the starting point for climbing a higher mountain in the exciting journey of life. PS & SR Branch Welfare Services Group |
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