It is regarded by many that retirement marks the most joyful period of one’s life. While this statement holds true, there are still arguments and varying aspects on the topic. To say retirement is when we are most elated and fulfilled is perhaps an exaggeration, which we will discuss why.
On the one hand, we have to admit that retirement is extremely satisfying. To begin with, we can finally enjoy ourselves and the fruits of our labor. For over half our lives, we spent the day bustling to work, being busy commuters that are oblivious to our surroundings and have only one main focus: to care for our family. At some point, the role of the breadwinner has to be succeeded, and our old self can finally get some peace and quiet, relieving our brain and body from the monotonous and repetitive lifestyle that we once indulged with our heart and soul. What is more, all wories for the forseeable future will evaporate as quickly as they have appeared. No longer do we have to worry about meeting deadlines or making ends meet. For retirees, they live in the now, the present and enjoy life as it is. This is simply because they have nothing else to fight for, everything they yearn for, has been achieved in their youth. The skills, wisdom, and money have all been accumulated to the point where they pay no mind to what lies ahead.
Although life as a retiree seems fulfilling and might appeal to some of us, there is no denying that there are some underlying drawbacks. Firstly, elders experience deteriorating health. Retirees may see life in all its beauty, but they no longer feel the exaltation nor the sheer adrenaline that invigorates their body in their youth. In other words, some old folks yearn for the good old days when their physical health was in top condition. Secondly, living a peaceful and tranquil life will become boring after a while. For some of us, we get tired and exasperated with all the sudden deadlines and pressure. However, it is these vicissitudes that make our life worth living. Most of us do not realize how elated we feel when ameliorating a difficult and unpleasant situation, accomplishment is the catalyst to make life more meaningful and worth living. So to be fair, living a tranquil life may not be as exciting as it seems.
In conclusion, there are perks and drawbacks to being a retiree. Some people may argue that this period of life is the happiest, personally, I find retirement somewhat sad and it is far from being the happiest time of one’s life.