Retire - Really?
I am joining my friend Josie for Two shoes tuesday
Her prompt this week is retire or reward
Working full time since the time he was eighteen, he could not help but think about what would happen when that magical age appeared and he could retire. He had seen his grandfather and his father before him work long hours to provide for their families and when the time came to retire they passed within a year. They had been conditioned to get up every morning, go to work until after dark, get home and do it again. He had vowed not to make the same mistake; yet at the age of thirty eight he had already been working for twenty years and did not know a different life. What was the reward for working so hard? Death? He did not think so.
When his first child was born, he was at work.
When his second child was born, he was at work.
When his third child was born he was at work.
That is when something inside of him broke. What was life really all about if you could not enjoy the famly you were bringing into the world? He knew he could not quit his job and still provide for his family, but what if the provisions became smaller and he enjoyed them instead?
Switching jobs at the age of 45 is never an easy thing to do, but he did it - for the sake of the family.
When it came time to retire he had three loving children, a wife and a grandchild on the way. His reward for working all those years turned out to be a loving family - not a large pension. And he felt like the luckiest man on earth!
so true... how often people wait for retirement and think they will somehow have the energy, youth and health to start living. The journey is so underestimated.
ReplyDeleteAh, it is indeed the simple things that enrich our lives. And these simple pleasures are always delivered by those that we love.You cannot buy love, nor can you buy its accessories. I am sure this is a true story, played out by many across time and place.
ReplyDeleteI loved this story, Brenda! The subject is so real and familiar to me as Papa Bear and I enter that age bracket and ponder what will be the rest of our lives. Is it enough to just work and work, and then die? I think not! That is why we try to carve out what times we can to make special memories together and with our children. The older we get the less interest there is in wealth and possessions. I would live contented under the bridge if it meant we could live there together and spend our days doing what we like. I think your messages of waiting too long and not making the most of life now is a good one. We may have to work, but we don't have to let work consumer our lives. The man in your story was blessed, and his wife and children were blessed even more. I think the same will be true of you and your children for all being close together where you can enjoy each other too! A great TST offering, THANK YOU! :-)
ReplyDeleteHow difficult it is to judge the priorities in life when you are still young. Working hard for the future may in fact mean missing out on the present when in your prime. There is a way to enjoy both but sadly it doesn't always mean you will be as well off in retirement as you would have wished. What a relevant story this is to encourage others to adjust Their goals to ensure you love and enjoy you family while you can.
ReplyDeleteAh, yes. Family will always be most important. Being married to a work-a-holic makes me wonder if 1. He ever will retire, or 2. if he will have regrets for family opportunities missed. Relationships are, however, of course, the most important part of life.
ReplyDeleteMy husband has elected to stay at a job that pays less but allows him to have more hours with family and to relax. We also had a conversation a few years ago about whether or not I should switch from part to full-time work. If I did the latter, the idea would be that I'd wait until retirement to pursue my childhood dream to write.
ReplyDeleteRightly or wrongly, we decided that retirement was an unknown and that we shouldn't rely on it. Maybe we'll both end up having to work later in life because of our decisions, but at the same time we'll know that we've enjoyed life as it happened.
My husband has elected to stay at a job that pays less but allows him to have more hours with family and to relax. We also had a conversation a few years ago about whether or not I should switch from part to full-time work. If I did the latter, the idea would be that I'd wait until retirement to pursue my childhood dream to write.
ReplyDeleteRightly or wrongly, we decided that retirement was an unknown and that we shouldn't rely on it. Maybe we'll both end up having to work later in life because of our decisions, but at the same time we'll know that we've enjoyed life as it happened.