Retirement marks another stage in life, much like the final chapters of a book. How does the author conclude, and what conclusions are reached before finishing? Are there any points left unresolved in the earlier chapters, and are these addressed before the final chapters? How does the book or story end so that the reader feels it has a satisfying conclusion?
Some people write autobiographies after retirement, and many wealthy and famous people write memoirs. I believe everyone deserves to write an autobiography. In the process, one can reflect on the past, considering what is worth publicizing or reminding future generations of, and what wrongs were done to others that need to be corrected or remedied in the remaining years. What favors were there that were not repaid in the past, and can those benefactors still be found? If your benefactor is no longer alive, how do you deal with the unrepayable debt of gratitude? What hatreds remain unresolved? Think about how to let go of those unforgettable hatreds or shames. After letting go of these grievances, one can live a life of integrity and uprightness.
Every Lunar New Year’s Eve, those who can afford it receive a fish at the New Year’s Eve dinner. This is a wish for a good, abundant, and prosperous year, and for surplus to come. It also expresses the hope for surplus year after year. In our later years, don’t we hope for surplus even more? Yes. Throughout history and across cultures, after the elderly have been warm and well-fed, they hope to leave some money, treasures, or survival tips for their descendants, hoping to help them survive in the future. Descendants receive the legacy of their ancestors. The warmth, food, and love that their ancestors provided live on in their hearts, transcending the limitations of death. There are three Chinese idioms: “To leave a lasting legacy,” “To have an immortal spirit,” and “To live on with noble character.”
Many wealthy people, regardless of their profession before retirement, do the opposite of what they did in retirement. Regardless of their profession, the goal was to earn money, collect money, and accumulate wealth; their final “profession” after retirement is the exact opposite: distributing money! Life is a grand cycle. A newborn baby is fragile and lies flat; youth is strength; and as one ages, one gradually returns to the state of infancy. Life is a grand cycle. Following this natural cycle, everything goes smoothly. A baby is born from nothing; a person, in the end, is reduced to nothingness. What remains is our surplus. How we allocate these surpluses in our final endeavors is a crucial question.