Sri Lanka, Sept. 16 -- It is almost an unspoken word or a nuance, when one reaches the age of retirement, so to say, one is considered elderly. I am amazed that people often align the legal age for moving out of permanent employment as ' retirement '. In Sri Lanka, the legal age for 'retirement' has yo-yoed between 65 to 60, and again, from 55 to 60. So, you see, the age that is indicative of retirement, can vary according to government policy, economic requirements, and geographical locations. In the western world and down-under, the retirement age can vary between 67 to 70 years.
As for me, there is nothing called the retirement age. If at all, retirement from good old earth will happen, when the upward call to heaven beckons me. Till then, I hope to wear my boots every morning and get about what I need to get about with grit and resolute, singing my own song. So, help me God!. Aging however, is the process. A universal truth but its dignity is seen in accumulated and practiced wisdom that comes only with aging. As a senior citizen and as I reflect on the many seasons I have passed through and the different scenarios witnessed, situations faced, and highs and lows experienced, there is one thing that stands out from among the many lessons learnt. Wisdom is experiential, whereas knowledge is accumulated, and understanding is cultivated.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Lanka Woman.