CHRISTMAS
Every Christmas, I think about gifts. Not just tangible gifts I might give or receive but the basic gifts of life, of thinking, of friends and family, of the ability to work and play. These gifts, which we all have a tendency to take for granted, are the most important. This year I've especially been thinking about work and play, how important work is, how play depends on work.
I've reached an age when many of my friends have begun to retire from work, to enjoy the fruits of years of work. But I've noticed that, to a man or woman, as soon as they formally retire from work, they begin to seek new work, sometimes charitable, sometimes part-time use of professional skills, sometimes sporting, sometimes fraternal.
Does this mean that retirement is impossible, that the respite from work we all think about sometimes is not worth seeking? Does it mean that we can't change, can't let go of the demands of working? Does it mean that we can't play, that we can't rest, that we can't enjoy? Or does it mean that work at things we choose is not really work, that productive effort at different jobs is really play?
I've concluded that we all need to feel useful, to feel needed, to be busy, to contribute others in the best way we can. Formal retirement means freedom, not from work, but to work at different things, to choose how to spend our days, to ignore demands and respond to requests. Work at things we really want to do is play.
We also need play, frivolous pursuits, pursuits which are not intended to gain wealth, not intended to gain security. We need to have fun, to distract ourselves from serious matters, relieve stress, forget about work. But we need fun at all stages of our lives, before and after retirement.
Play seems better when it is contrasted to work, when it's a break from work. I think that's why retirees seek work. It makes the contrast of play so much better. Moreover, it gives us purpose, makes us feel needed, allows us to help others. When we look at things in this way, work is play, work is enjoyable, work is essential. When it's not, change jobs, don't think of giving up work. Work as long as you can and make work fun.
12-25-00
MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM YOUR INTERNET GRANDFATHER!
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