RETIREMENT: Not Time to Tire and Wear but for Personal Prosperity

 By Prof. Dr. Halimu Shauri

Email, thecoastnewspaper@gmail.com

Over the holidays, I had an opportunity not only to rest, but interact, mix and mingle with people we saw as role models as we were growing up.

I must attest that the interactions were enriching and emotional, for some involved a mental journey to my humble beginnings.

As good memories were evoked through the trajectory of life, so were bad memories and challenges of life. We had reflections, some pleasant and others heartbreaking.

However, we had a moot point that:

“Life takes different perspectives and trajectories for different people despite engaging in similar childhood experiences.” 

In my interactions, I had the opportunity to discuss in details with relatives and villagemates, who had retired. To all of them my question was how is life after retirement?

It was unanimous that:

“Retirement is a period not only to rest, but an opportunity for personal growth and development after dedicating ones life to institutional growth and development.”

In our rich discussions, not focused but random and in separate contexts, we had the opportunity to explore the journey towards employment in the early stages of life. This included going to school and colleges for getting certifications. 

With these certificates, one had to attend interviews and some of the critical questions were so do you have experience in this kind of work or what skill set do you have to be the best fit for the job? These were and still are frustrating questions to date for those fresh in the labor market. 

However, my discussants went through them and secured jobs. In their work life they told me they were exposed to a wide range of career development opportunities.

As a result, their work experience exposed them and built capacity and competences in their careers.

However, the irony is that:

“The experience they were asked to have had when seeking for employment did not keep them working forever once they had even more of it after years of service.”

Another one told me also that when they joined their employer, they were not financially stable, which is common to all jobseekers. 

However, after many years of service through salaries, allowances, loans and investments, they managed to attain financial stability.

Apparently, with their education and certifications, work experiences and skills and even with financial stability they are now retirees. When I posed the question what are they doing or planning to do with all these blessings. 

The response was we are now retired and resting. I was taken a back because for me these people we call retirees need not tire and wear because they have all what is needed now for personal growth and development.

I told them:

“Retirement is time to shine, grow and prosper at a personal level because they now have all what is needed to prosper.”

What are your thoughts?

Comment below:

Prof. Dr. Halimu Shauri

Dean & Consultant Sociologist 

PWANI UNIVERSITY