The Pursuit of Early Retirement Is Nothing But a Joke
Stopping from work and associating it with happiness is a fallacy.
I have changed my outlook on Retirement.
Throughout my earthly years, I have always wanted to retire early.
It means stopping any work and just doing things I want to do.
Period.
But as I aged and continued to learn more about life, my walk towards entering my early 40s gave me additional wisdom on how important life is and how we should deem Retirement in a broader sense.
Retirement is not all about aiming for leisure always, isolating yourself from people you hate, or saving a lot right now to the point of depriving yourself and waiting to spend that money when you hit 60 years old.
I have seen so many people living extremely frugality to the point they hate it and feel robotic to chase a specific number to resign from corporate work.
On the other hand, after witnessing people, hearing stories, and experiencing slow moments during my quiet time.
One thing is for sure.
Work will always be part of our lives.
In summary, Retirement means having the freedom to choose what kind of work to do without thinking much about the cash flow or price tag attached to a business or job.
I have witnessed guys in their prime years — finding meaningful activities to occupy their idle time.
- A churchmate launched a bakery after retiring from being a seaman.
- My dad joined a morning club where they jog and eat together when he was still living and slowed down on his trucking business.
- A former colleague resorted to gardening and nursing her mom after resigning from her desk job.
- My mother-in-law ventured into freelancing after being a corporate accountant.
- An uncle of my wife submitted to a call to become a fully pledged pastor after his physical therapist job abroad.
The point is we are created and made to work.
I have been in several experiments to mirror a “retirement-life” scenario through my long breaks or annual leaves.
When I recall those days for the past nine years working and supporting a bank, most of the time — even if I am not required to switch on my computer (we have a ten-day compliance leave mandated by the bank regulator not to switch on our computers while on break), I itched to do something productive, such as writing, talking to a colleague, or contacting my boss if things were okay.
And this is where I am coming from about work: God intended for humans to work during our earthly existence.
It is like the air that we breathe. Water we drink or food we eat. Work is essential to human living. It gives us that sense of fulfillment because we use our talent and skills.
What I am learning right now is to “live.”
How can I “integrate my work and life?
Even if I need to work on holidays or after 5 pm, I still find joy at this time because I get to spend time with my family and do things such as write.
Thanks to a good working environment and hybrid working arrangement.
Even if I am now working a 9–5, I can use it to my advantage by using my earnings to accumulate wealth while enjoying activities on the side.
There is also room for me to enjoy entrepreneurial pursuits or side hustle experiments because nobody is stopping me, especially myself.
The perception of Retirement is a phenomenon driven by a mix of factors.
One thing is sure: Retirement is not life’s finish line or end goal.
No matter what age or wherever you are. Enjoy the ride.
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