‘A good newspaper is a nation talking to itself’
Purpose in life Arvind Mani, Nadi
If you’re like many would-be retirees, you’ll likely “retire from” something – a job or boss you hate – and not do anything else.
That’s a big mistake. One of the greatest reasons involves the loss of self-worth one feels when they no longer provide the service they did to other people when they were working. This loss can leave a great void in a person’s life.
Work gives us a reason to get up every day. Most of us are working for an organisation that has a greater good, helps others, makes things people need or where people count on us.
So, when you stop working, what will compel you to get out of bed each morning? How can you make sure you use your time in retirement wisely?
What’s your purpose? Humans continue to thrive when they have a purpose and are still learning. Without purpose, many retirees begin to decline. When we ask a preretiree what they’ll do when they retire, and they respond with Black Label, it’s a good indicator that they are not prepared. Find a worthy cause. While employed, you’re likely to spend 20 hours or more per week commuting and working. In retirement, you’ll need to figure out what you’ll be doing with all that extra time. Rather than coming up with a plan that is focused on yourself, your plan should include service to other people. Research shows giving your time, efforts and talents to a worthy cause is one of the most fulfilling things you can do in life. Discover something new. Retirement is no longer for a short time of sitting idly, grandchildren smiles and drinking kava.
It is a very long time – one-third of your adult life. Being engaged and purposeful at any age is key to maintaining social connection and wellbeing across one’s lifespan.
Start discovering and exploring something new today. While you are working, begin thinking of other activities that may interest you, a job you always wanted to try or a cause that can become a passion.
Develop the skills, contacts and possibilities as part of your retirement plan.
What’s your life’s passion? Pre-retirement is also time to ask questions. Who are the people in your life that you have or want to cultivate relationships with after work? Where do you want to live and what do you want to do but never did? What are some things you’re good at or want to get good at? What are your talents and strengths that you can teach or help others accomplish? The answers to these questions will help you find your real life’s purpose. Do you have grand children? Older Fijians currently spend much of their time on leisure activities, such as gardening but also with grandchildren. Consider helping your adult children with their children. You can participate more in their educational and sporting activities. Volunteer to be a coach for one of their teams.
Many people find this to be some of the most rewarding things they ever do. As for leisure activities, ask yourself the following questions: Do you have an activity plan? Are there trips you want to take, sights you want to see? Are there people you want to visit or reconnect with? Answering those questions will help you figure out how to spend your time in retirement, too.
Don’t let obstacles get in your way. Retirement offers you the chance to change from what you did for money to what you have always wanted to do. Get over the ‘I am too old,’ or ‘it’s too late for me’ attitude. I am almost 74.
I have a sign on my desk that says, I am not retired, I am just getting started. How will your relationship change with your spouse?
Suddenly, when two people are on top of each other 24 hours a day, seven days a week without any passions or hobbies or having some alone time, it can cause problems in a marriage.
60,000 speeding tickets Ronnie Chang, Nadi
How scary?
60,000 speeding tickets issued from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2018. A frightening daily average of 164.
How many of these tickets were issued to repeat offending drivers?
All such irresponsibly speeding, careless, reckless and seemingly thoughtless drivers, sadly, do not deserve to be sitting behind that steering wheel. You are menaces to all road users. You must be classified as “weapons of wilful destruction of human lives”.
Revocation of these drivers’ licences, please Land Transport Authority, is a start, we must not dodge as harsh as it may seem. The proverbial cold hard truth must be spoken, applied ruthlessly, and remedial deterrent measures taken forthwith. Simply, no other way forward, 2019 and beyond. Time to act responsibly!
Enough talking. Enough sad statistics.
Vessel safety Dharmendra Kumar, Suva
MSAF chief executive officer Captain Philip Hill has hit the nail right on the head when he’ said: “We do not do any more special surveys and the reason being is that the ship has not changed its size so the space on board remains the same so there is no increase in passengers.”
I fully agree with him. The number of passengers allowed on a vessel at any given time must always match the accommodation and obviously the life jackets and life rafts.
Safety is a cheap and effective insurance policy and it doesn’t happen by accident.
WAF response Tomasi Boginiso, Nasinu
This is in reference to Sekove Uluinayau’s (GM Customer Service) WAF respond to the water supply to Naimalavau Village in Nakelo.
Firstly, I would like to thank Mr Uluinayau for responding to my letters in which the people of Naimalavau Village are pleased and have accepted the apology. They now look forward to WAF rectifying the issues. As promised, by January 7, 2019, everything will be restored and the villagers of Naimalavau Village will have no problem in waiting for another week. The villagers of Naimalavau and Vaturua will look forward to the restoration and can’t wait for the improvement of WAF services to its customers in the area. The village of Naimalavau in Nakelo, Tailevu, wishes the Water Authority of Fiji a prosperous New Year.
NZ Honours List Amenatave Yaconisau, Delainavesi
The inclusion of 14 Pacific people in the NZ Honours List reveals the continued peopling of the ‘land of the long white cloud’ by Pacific islanders. Auckland is dubbed the ‘Polynesian capital of the Pacific’ There are probably more Samoans there.