By 
The last pharmacy I worked at was the best job I’ve ever had because I was older than many retired clients and what I learned from them forever changed how I felt about retirement.
They told me all about themselves and the world they lived in. I listened carefully, asked questions, and observed. It was an invaluable education. I soaked it up like a sponge.
I heard many comments and ideas that I did not agree with.but I didn’t say anything. After all, he knew that she was being educated about a world and lifestyle she knew nothing about, but wanted to learn.
One of the many things that surprised me was this comment. from an older woman: “I’ve done for others all my life, and now it’s time for others to do for me.”
For me, that was a surprise. By all means, do it for others who need help, but if you don’t do it out of the goodness of your heart, then don’t do it. When you do something kind, don’t expect anything in return. Family members and others may or may not want to be caregivers, and they shouldn’t be if you can take care of yourself. When you can help yourself, you’ll stay physically strong longer and your brain will be sharper longer, which is a blessing.
Other than loss of cognition and physical healthPossibly the worst thing older people have to fear is dependency. When you become dependent, whether by choice or necessity, you lose a part of yourself.
Another thing I learned about retirees it is that many did not have sufficient income, which opens the door to dependency. More than a few only had Social Security income to survive the rest of their lives. It’s common for many to retire thinking they won’t need as much money anymore, only to soon discover that inflation makes that idea a serious miscalculation. You find yourself thinking that you worked hard your entire adult life in anticipation of enjoying a carefree retirement, and when the time comes, it’s a rude awakening that what you did to prepare (or even if you did) wasn’t enough.
But here’s some good news for those willing to deal with reality. I am a strong defender of work. I remember listening to Pastor Rick Warren, author of the bestselling book, A life with purpose, discussing political issues with John McCain who ran for president against Barak Obama. I remember Pastor Warren emphatically saying, “We are built for the job.” Not everyone agrees with that sentiment, but it made perfect sense to me. He gave legitimacy to the phrase “use it or lose it.” If you don’t challenge your brain and body on a consistent basis, it deteriorates.
I mention the subject of work because I saw many retirees without money able to hold a job of one kind or another, but did not want to work. I remember a client, a retired engineer, clipping food coupons from the newspaper while he waited for his prescription to be filled. He always complained about the cost of his medication, determined not by the pharmacy but by his insurance plan. But unfortunately, he never seemed or wanted to understand that.
One day, in what I thought was a casual and pleasant conversation With him about his work experience, I asked him if he had ever considered getting a part-time job that would allow him to use and share his considerable skills. You would have thought that he had insulted his mother. He got angry and reminded me that he had earned his retirement and there was no way he was going back to work. Ever. For me it was a lesson learned: be careful what or how you ask a question.
On other occasions, women told me that they would like to have a job. but they didn’t think they were qualified to do anything because they had been out of the labor market (or never in it) for a long time. They could have found a job suited to their talents, but truth be told, they really didn’t want to work. They were settled in their comfortable leisure-oriented lifestyle and were unwilling to disturb it or give it up. That is easy to understand.
But then there was Margie. she had an attitude that said it could chew you up and spit you out. In particular, she said she was tired of the daily 4 pm meetings at the local burger joint with the residents of her retirement complex. All they did, she said, was complain about aches and pains and say how much they loved (or hated) her doctor, reminisce and tell and retell demeaning old man jokes. “I’m tired of it,” she complained to herself.
One day, Margie began to put on makeup and dye her hair. “Old Age Orange” and began wearing what were considered business clothes. She had gotten a job as a clerk at a local body shop. Did she look like a million bucks? Absolutely. Soon after, she was showing off a beautiful engagement ring. At 78, she became engaged to the 67-year-old body shop owner. It was a miracle? Most likely, Margie took the bull by the horns and took her life.
I understand why people are anxious to start retirement. After 40 years of work, you are tired. Retirement provides an opportunity to take a deep breath and finally make life your own. Even with difficulties, lifestyle becomes a warm and loving friend.
But here’s the thing. After a year or two of enjoying the freedom of retirement, that initial “honeymoon” phase starts to get boring, or the need for more money arises. This is your chance to be decisive about what you want to do with the rest of your life. Before you get too tired and your brain and body too “soft” to do anything of value, take control of your future. It belongs to you.
Life expectancy has increased enormously. More people take better care of themselves and it is not uncommon for some to reach 100 or more. So if you retire at age 65 (or earlier), you can live another 30 years.
Please don’t let your chronological age awareness rule or ruin your life! In fact, age is “just a number.” We agree that it is true, but we often act like we don’t believe it when we make decisions in life. What you should be concerned about is your biological age: the health and vitality of your cells. As I mentioned before, I’m 92 years old and frankly I don’t give a damn what my birth date is. I recently had an extensive test done to determine my biological age, and it is 74. Trust me; change your outlook on life. It gives you the freedom to dare to act on all the possibilities that open up to you.
You can have a fulfilling and purposeful second life after retirement. You can and should experience the magic of fulfillment in your older years. Remember Harlan Sanders, founder of the KFC chicken franchise? He was not a child when he decided to start his business. Do you remember Grandma Moisés? If you don’t know who he was, google her for inspiration. Or maybe you’re familiar with Gert Boyle, CEO of Columbia Sportswear. He went to the office every day until he passed away at the age of 94. Old age is not a death sentence. Be confident; what others have done, you CAN do too, and maybe much more!