Make your day!
Keep yourself busy doing things that you will enjoy doing.
THERE are some who may just sit around after retirement, waiting for “interesting” things to happen. They get bored and eventually feel neglected. Nobody can make life interesting for you if you don’t make an effort yourself. Even if the weather is bad, you can still have a good day! How? Try some of the suggestions here.
I keep hearing about how precious “old friends” are, and I have enjoyed very warm relationships with many of them. I also have “new friends” (older and younger) who have turned out to be equally precious. Yes, beyond family, one can be enriched by positive relationships with different types of characters in different settings. Attending gatherings can be so stimulating!
Well, when you don’t want a crowd, ring up someone you are comfortable with. Arrange to meet for tea or lunch and walk around a shopping complex. You get your meal (which you will need) and some exercise (in comfortable surroundings)!
When alone, you can also enjoy a leisurely meal at a kopitiam or mamak stall. I have a weekly “fix” of tosai and teh tarik at a nearby food outlet. It’s such a simple meal, but it makes my day!
Sit back and listen to some evergreens or classical music, according to your mood. Isn’t that soothing and relaxing? It masks other sounds from the neighbourhood, and “if music be the food of love …” play on!
Collect books and magazines, cook something, for a fund-raising event. If possible, also help to man a stall part time. It’s satisfying to raise money from donated stuff for worthwhile causes. From my own experience, it should make your day. If you enjoy reading, browse at book sales. You might come across something amusing, like a joke book, a handbook to get you inspired to try some magic tricks, or a cook book to try a dish you have never tried before.
Or just pick some up as birthday or Xmas gifts.
On the computer, one can enjoy interactive online puzzles or even read e-books. I have so much fun watching fantastic circus shows, so many “wow” moments over photos and videos of beautiful landscapes, seascapes and foodscapes ... new ones keep popping up in my emails from a website that I have subscribed to for free. I am almost drunk from nature’s beauty. It makes my day. I sometimes forward these to family members and close friends.
(But we have to be careful with programmes on the computer and on TV, as we can easily be stuck with them and forget to rest our eyes. I set my alarm clock for one hour later, for me to take a break!)
Attend a talk, a charity bazaar, a demo on cooking or art and craft. Go watch a public eating contest and have a laugh. There are such activities taking place at different venues and some might be near your area. Such events can brighten up your day.
There are so many things we should be grateful for, that we have access to, some even for free or at very little cost. The thing is to make time for it, destress ourselves and recharge. Family … friends … food … music … books … art and craft … social services … enrich our lives.
But if you are a loner, make sure you have enough to keep you happily occupied. Yes, one can still be contented enough leading a quieter life with one’s own exciting moments. But isn’t it more fun to share laughter and joy with good company?
Old is gold is a platform for readers aged 55 and above to share their wealth of experience and take on life. E-mail star2@thestar.com.my. Published contributions will be paid, so please include your full name, IC number, address and phone number.