retirement and death

Happy Monday kaaaaaa!

 

The other day I had a chance to talk with a retiring senior police officer about retirement and death. I enjoyed it thoroughly and here are what I got out of the discussion ka: 

1. Slow down to care more for your health, what he's started for a few years now.

On exercise, I grade myself a 'C' ka!

2. He's been through many ups and downs, getting challenging posts or being demoted depending on who the bosses were! He's seen many sub-ordinates who changed sides all of the sudden and then could turn to him again when he became in an active post. So those situations help him adjust much better after he's retired as he wouldn't expect much from his subordinates at all.

 

He said he learned a lot about people and for those who tend to change abruptly to please new bosses, he could only help as seen needed. That was the best he wished to do.

 

I've seen some similar situations but I haven't been through them directly so I'm not so 'อึ้ง' (Speechlessly stunned!) with the people around as much ka. As I'm out of the government service with much less 'หัวโขน' (the feeling of being in charge with many around ready to listen and serve!.....Um! this term can't be explained briefly as it can trigger too many arguments lae ka!) , I grade myself 'B'

3. He observed other senior people how they spent their days and found that he himself should be able to spend time with contentment, doing gardening and daily exercises, reading and meditation.

 

My grade is......'D'! I do much less of all but sure hope to do more reading and exercise ka.

4. He plans to travel more often until the age of 65 since he's seen many who are no longer mobile beyond that age.

 

My grade is 'B'. Have already planned some trips and hope to do more beyond 65 ka!

 

5. His will is written and he's taking care of other related things in case of passing! He feels comfortable to talk about death too as he's learned about life.

 

My grade is 'C+'. I've prepared some and will get to do more to complete it ka. 

I was calmer after talking with him and glad to have another person I can talk with about death in particular ka. And I guess I've made the right decision to retire a bit earlier na ka! 

Happy work week ka!

 

Eulogy

Dear All, It was a short long weekend for me as I feel time flew so fast ka.....lazzzzy muung ka!

However, it turned out to be one of the best weekends with a few fun things and several occasions to listen to some good stories I'd like to share ka.

Let me tell you about 'eulogy'. A senior ajarn and I were talking about it as at his age, people have asked him quite often to write about the deceased. Both of us agreed that it need to be someone who we not only know well but have fond memories of. The title and position of the person writing a piece didn't really show much na ka.

Here is how the story goes ka:

The person began by stating 'Prime Minister Who Had a Special Place in My Heart!'

A very high level officer promised his daughter that he would attend her Olympics Swimming Competition in Canada, as it was an extraordinary event for both. However, it so happened that the Prime Minister had decided to head a delegation to London for an important round of negotiation.

Being responsible, this senior leader had to go with the Prime Minister even he regretted not being able to attend the event as promised.

At the airport on the departure date, he met with the Prime Minister who said to him, 'You don't need to go with me to London.' The PM then handed him return airtickets to Canada for him to leave several hours later. He learned that the PM asked everyone to keep it a secret to make it a surprise.

After I heard the story, I told this senior ajarn that such a story made the eulogy so meaningful for the family of the deceased, not any generic piece of writing!

Some more learning was drawn from the story too.....how this PM's leadership could 'buy' people's hearts as it showed his caring and generosity, how senior government officials may have sacrificed their personal family priorities to work, and how dedication to work could possibly increase, etc.

Happy Tuesday ka.

Life is What You Make It

Hello again ka!

The past weekend, I enjoyed reading a translated version (by ประเวศ หงส์จรรยา) of the book, 'Life is What You Make It' by Peter Buffett,  and have been thinking a lot about it.

After I read it, I bought an e-copy loei as there are many in the book I'd love to quote....but have yet to read the English version lae ka:))!

Some of the things that I've got are:

1. The author was talking about identity and values, feeling he was given a privileged life and trying to find the meaning out of his own potentials and interests to be truly proud.

2. I admire the ways his parents brought him up. Both Warren Buffett and his wife taught him well. Both are very modest and their children have seen how they've been living their lives, from when the family wasn't wealthy until when they are today! The author's mother taught him to respect all religious faiths and to learn from the teaching. She inculcated in him the respect of diversity and for me in particular, this diversity issue has been the highlight I gain from reading it....religions, races, social and economic background, etc.

3. He stressed his parents' teaching about learning that everyone has stories to share and they too can teach, not just those highly educated.

4. Ability to link and apply what we learn across fields and issues is crucial for us to see and do more.

5. Teamwork is highly successful when maximizing the uniqueness and real talents in each of the members to the fullest.

6. True success shouldn't be linked far too closely with 'money earned' since it could be beyond our control. It needs to 'come from within', from the substance that we've made possible from 'the mysterious chemistry of our abilities and passion and hard work and commitment.'

Want to pick up a copy to read mai ka?