Finding new ways to live

I always remember the year-end conversation with Mr Dhruva, my legendary manager. His advice went like this: If you have not done anything in the year, at least change the direction of your chair. You may get new ideas.
After ten years of retirement, I struggle to find purpose in life. My career gave me structure and direction for years, but now that I’ve retired, I feel adrift.
One day, as I was sitting in my favourite armchair, feeling sorry for myself, I noticed a photo album on the shelf that I hadn’t looked at in years. As I flipped through the pages, I saw pictures of myself on vacations, at family gatherings, and even a few from my college days. Those pictures made me realize how much I enjoyed trying new things and meeting new people. As I closed the album, I found a quote that read, “Find a new way to live each day.” It struck a chord with me, and I reflected on the message.
The following day, I woke up with a renewed sense of purpose. I took a different approach to my day and started by trying a new breakfast recipe. As I savoured the flavour, I felt a spark of excitement I hadn’t felt in a long time.
After breakfast, I decided to walk in my neighbourhood on a different route. Walking, I smiled and introduced myself to new faces. I even struck up a conversation with a woman who was gardening and learned a thing or two about planting flowers. The warm sunshine on my face and the vibrant colours of the flowers made me feel grateful for the beauty of the world around me.
During the afternoon, I sat at my desk and started working on a project I had been putting off for weeks. It wasn’t groundbreaking, but completion reminded me of my former productive self.
In the evening, I went to Hoboken and entered a coffee shop — Hidden Grounds. I ordered a masala chai and sat next to two students from Stevens. The sound of young voices and the different ideas they brought to the table filled me with a sense of belonging. We agreed to meet again.
As I lay in bed that night, I reflected on my day and realized that finding a new way to live each day didn’t have to be anything grand or monumental. It could be as simple as trying a new recipe, meeting new people, or tackling a task I had been putting off.
Over the next few weeks, I continued to find new ways to live each day. I took up painting, and the feeling of the brush on the canvas was a reminder of the beauty of creation. I went on a train trip, and the smell of fresh air reminded me of the freedom of exploration. I volunteered to teach English in the local community, and the sense of giving back reminded me of the importance of community. I even started learning a new language, and the sound of foreign words reminded me of the world’s vastness.
With each new experience, I felt more agile and fulfilled than ever before. I realized that retirement didn’t have to be the end of my purpose but rather the beginning of a new chapter in my life. As I sit here, reflecting on my journey, I’m grateful for the photo album that reminded me of my adventurous past and the quote that inspired me to find a new way to live each day. It’s given me a renewed sense of purpose and has shown me that there’s still so much to experience and explore in life, no matter how old I am.