efficiency after retirement

After one full month of my (semi) retirement, it seems I've been learning more aspects about work and life ka.

1. Efficiency comes with a slower pace with more quality

While working full time, life was always on the go-go with one thing after another....if not more. During the past month, I recalled what my American friend said about himself. He was telling me that he had to remind himself of not rushing as he had lots more time. He is an efficient guy who's always prompt at acknowledging and answering email. Even when asked to help edit minutes, I could be sure he'd get back to me within an hour....no deadline needed to be proposed ka.

I think what also comes with efficiency is the heightened quality ka. Since I can plan on my own (fast) pace, I can be more thorough, thinking, reading, and writing. Admittedly, I still have the habits of going far too fast for the retirement pace lae ka! Need to tell myself more often to now care even much more about quality dai!

2. Work and life balance is more easily manageable with some little challenges!

Another friend of mine said time is in our hands and it's up to us to manage it. I've been to several get-togethers with students, and friends from school years, the opportunities that I may not have allowed them to be open for my own self before. I then had so many excuses, saying I still had lots to do or I was too tired to socialize, etc.

No longer!

All depend on my own preference! Obviously, I choose to reconnect with some long lost people I love!

My little challenges are the fear of losing my multitasking skills and speed ka! I also think that I need more stimuli to ignite my imagination and creativity! Too much unnecessary fear mai ka?

3. No matter what, never stop learning!

Despite my fear, I've learned a lot through self-reflective activities and socializing with others, especially my students. It's fascinating to see how they lead their lives. One has been running business and taking charge of their little community to do morning exercises and to help monks carry the food every Sunday. His wife quit a very high salary job to follow the community life. Really nice to know ka!

Indra Nooyi, Pepsi CEO , said in Fortune, November 17, 2014 as follows:

“Never stop learning. Whether you are an entry-level employee fresh from college or a CEO (or a retiree!-- my own addition ka!), you don’t know it all. Admitting this is not a sign of weakness. The strongest leaders are those who are lifelong students."

 

4. "Lintegration!"

 

Looking at the above 3 items, all are closely linked and can be integrated--'lintegrate' jing jing ka! To table them out makes it easier for me to write. Yet, in practice, things are so very much similar. How to live a balanced and meaningful life. Agreed?

 

Enjoy working and living ka.

 

 

 

 

 

no big boss here!

I've had some opportunities to be a 'good' alumna and yesterday gave me another one with again a few fine lessons.

One of my basic education schools is Vasudevi (Regina Mundi). It was established by the Ursuline nuns with 4 schools at present (Vasudevi, Mater Dei-- also one of my Alma Mater, Regina Coeli in Chiang Mai, and Piyamat in Payao). The school group has initiated a project for each school to invite awardees to share their thoughts and experiences, using Serviam (I will serve!) in their lives.

My friends and I agreed that it could be regarded something quite distant from younger kids so we decided to talk a bit more about our careers and how we saw this philosophy in ourselves, work, and life.

As one of the volunteers, I offered my ideas how the talk could be set up to attract kids' attention. I myself served also as a moderator and urged that a student join me too...otherwise there would have been three old ladies talking lae ka!

Lessons learned from this activity are:

1. Go along with the group-- be diverse, 'as you like it!'

Three speakers had three preferred styles of talking, one wanted to talk alone for 15 minutes, the second one would answer following her own questions set, and the third one--me, would love to go something lighter like chatting with friends.

After talking with the coordinator and the other two speakers, I told her to go in the diverse styles so the other two would feel easier!

2. Leave the timetable tight only on paper!

Since all the organizers/speakers are retirees with lots of work experiences, several are still used to drawing a very systematic timetable like 5 minutes for the opening, 15 minutes for one speaker and 5 minutes for Q&A, etc. I didn't really request any change when asked, though! Being with kids needs to be in a more relaxing environment but the experienced do have their points. I tend to 'play it by ear' again!


3. Help without asking!

When asked about the stage setup, I advised for some changes and right away, no questions were raised, except some apologetic remarks of troubling those involved. Immediately, everyone started replacing the big armchairs with smaller ones. Not even one complaint or annoyance was heard/seen!

4. Have Trust!
The coordinator was a bit anxious as she didn't hear from me well before the program started. She also said she forgot to ask me about the stage setup. However, she said she had 'trust' that I'd do what I promised, like calling speakers and our young moderator so all knew what to expect. I think it's a big word and it was great to keep her sane despite her very real self of being systematic and efficient.

I got some nice thoughts about alumni activities. In our traditional hierachical culture, it isn't easy to manage when considering some factors especially seniority. For volunteer work, no one could be boss and it will work well when everyone tries to accommodate the requests/needs as far as possible to reach one same goal....success of the activity as planned with favorable results!

We all were happy being volunteers yesterday!

handwritten and digital messages

After two weeks of retirement, I still have some stories to share about it ka.

The first is on handwritten messages. A few have sent postcards or cards to express their thanks and wishes for my retirement. It's so funny how special those cards have turned to be in this digital world!

It also led me to think of how difficult it is to actually write with our own handwriting and how penmanship will be more and more valuable in the future!

The second is on a digital message I got which made me teary ....even though I would have to admit that I feel I don't deserve it as much na ka. Let me share it with you ka:


Leaves fall sunset approaches a sense of an ending but all that scatters over the ground becomes its covering enriches the soil makes it fertile again

So you need to be always remember this is not over yet allow your ends to serve as beginnings let buried joys and sorrows embrace your soul and be ready to grow again

(so sorry I don't know where it is from and google didn't help either!)

ใบไม้ร่วงหล่น อาทิตย์อัสดง สำนึกของการสิ้นสุด หากใบไม้ที่กระจัดพลัดพราย ดั่งผ้าห่มปกคลุม อยู่บนพื้น กลายเป็นปุ๋ยคืนสู่ดิน หล่อเลี้ยงชีวิต อีกครั้ง
ฉะนั้น ขอเธอโปรดระลึก ไว้เสมอว่า การจากลาในครานี้ คือปฐมบท การเดินทางครั้งใหม่ ให้สุขและทุกข์ ที่พ้นผ่าน โอบกอดเธอไว้ สร้างกำลังใจ กับก้าวใหม่ ของเธอ

พี่ทิพย์ครับ แม้ตอนนี้พี่ทิพย์จะไม่ได้เป็นไม้ใหญ่ยืนต้นให้ร่มเงาที่ fulbright แล้ว ผมอยากให้พี่ทิพย์รู้ว่าผลพวงของความเหนื่อยของพี่ทิพย์หลายๆ ปีที่ผ่านมาตกลงเป็นใบไม้มากมาย กลายเป็นปุ๋ยสร้างดินดีเพื่อหล่อเลี้ยงชีวิตอื่นๆ ต่อไป ผมคือหนึ่งในใบไม้เหล่านั้นสัญญาว่าจะทำหน้าที่เป็น"ปุ๋ย"ให้ดีที่สุด ทุกครั้งที่พี่ทิพย์มองเห็นใบไม้คลุมดิน ก็ขอให้พี่ทิพย์นึกถึงคุณประโยชน์มากมายในระยะยาวที่พี่ทิพย์สร้างไว้ให้กับสังคมนะครับ

I can't help but feel it's so touching and inspiring for many people and professions, especially teachers ka. I also feel really encouraged to keep sharing my thoughts and experiences!

Cheers!
 

Life and game

Sawasdee from home kaaa!

Today is the first official 'working day' retirement and I'll have to get used to the new routine that has yet to be found ka!

The other day, I just got a new phone. At my level of technolgy literacy even with my best friend's help, I did something wrong and all my favorite games had to be restarted! All the accumulated scores, levels, and gifts I hoarded for the past two years were gone!

I learned some good lessons!

First, it was funny I linked it with my early retirement (sorry to include 'early'.....to be psychologically happy that I have not yet reached 60 even when I'm almost there!)

As I restarted the new chapter of the 'Line Pop' game, I also began my post-Fulbright life!

The feelings were different, though! For the game, I have to admit that I was upset to have lost all the scores and 'gifts' like 'rubies', and 'special items' that will speed up the scores with more fun'. On retirement, I feel more relaxed and less worried......but know I'll start getting restless, wanting to become a bit busier after 'my honeymoon' period is over ka.

It also made me think that a lot about 'senior government officials' who would feel real loss after retirement, especially those who got addicted to authority and attention.

Second, as I was playing the game as a beginner, the skills and experiences are there for me to level up faster. However, since I was very much used to a few 'helpers' the game had to offer, it wasn't so easy to score as high as I used to do.

Thinking of myself as a recent retiree, I'm blessed to have some hands-on experiences and skills. I can also help with many projects/activities. Yet, without an organization as my base, I can't do much on my own for sure!

Lastly, when the game was deleted, my friend told me it was the right time to quit playing it. When referring to my retirement, is it the right time to quit working altogether?

Well! life isn't a game and each individual has his/her way to look at it ka.

It turns out that I quit neither ka:))! I don't mind going over from level 1 and I'm sure I'm ready for another work adventure.

Both game and life will see me as a different player:
..... a player who thinks she has more choices, in particular to go slower or to speed up;
......a player who should not cherish past achievements too much to become too confident; and
......a player who more or less knows from previous experiences what to expect while being aware that there're new constraints and conditions to go through.

For now, I plan to do more self-reflected activities to see more about the past for more joy in the life-work balance ka....with life as the first priority laew ka!

Cheers.