"Retirement: That's when you return from work one day and say, "Hi! Honey, I'm home - for ever."

Gene Perret

By that time lots of memory have faded. Those joyful days of your first job, those sense of righteousness, those indomitable urge of attaining integrity, those youthful dreams, those exotic feelings of going into the works, have taken backseat. You didn't even realize when all of these have been replaced by responsibility, urge to climb the corporate ladder and everyday's struggle for a powerful existence. Somewhere down the line your mission for life and world has changed to your vision for corporate life. And then, after those grueling, hard-working but decades which gave you fulfillment and achievement your day of retirement has arrived.

In the beginning, probably you feel free and content. All work of life done. But, one-third of life is still left with so much dreams unfulfilled and only one life span. So much work still to be done, so many hands to reach out to, so many non-trodden paths to walk.Just come out of your shell and give a peep into the world around. This is the time to blend art of life and business of life - superbly and maturely.

After retirement the first thing comes to your mind is travel. Do pursue that. Go on a world tour. Visit those parts of the world, which always fuelled your imagination.

At times some other person's talent for something like violin, or flute or other instrument must have touched your heart. Well this is the time, when you too can give some time to yourself to take up a new hobby. Some time to rediscover yourself and the creativity within you.

Your work, your busy life has never allowed you to spend quality time with your family, or to keep a pet, or look after your garden or to go out for a movie. Now, everyday you can give a little time to everything.

Retirement should become a time to reach out to the world. That was probably your first dream of youth. Now you have the leisure to fulfill that. There are many communities. Just surf the net and you will get plenty of ideas and ideologies.

World has moved on, while you were busy with your work. Well now you can catch up. Go back to academics and get enrolled for a course. Newer vistas have opened in many areas which you were not aware of.

It is never late to start reading. Retirement should provide you an opportunity to explore your hobbies like reading.Take a dip into the world of literature. You might feel like pick up your pen and share your ideas and feelings with others. Your experience in life can enlighten others via net or published papers.

Last but not least, pamper yourself. Do whatever makes you happy, successful and you can say, "Yes! I am living my life". Please "retire from work, not from life".