RETIREMENT IS AN ENTITLEMENT: Nobody grows up with the notion that they will work till their dying day. Indeed, the concept of retirement seems embedded into the fabric of American life as much as marriage, family, two cars, a house, a successful career, and more…..
DOCTOR OF
RETIREMENT STUDIES: The truth is that the decision to retire is not as easy as
it seems, except of course for those who never worked seriously in their
lives. I have been retired for six
years. Considering this duration, in
education years, I am an expert in retirement.
To be sure, this is a reasonable length of time for a serious matriculated
student to obtain a PhD in most any field of study. Call me David Easa, MD, PhD
- doctor of Medicine and doctor of Retirement Studies.
RETIREMENT
FOR MIDDLE AMERICANS IS A MYTH: The truth is that Middle Americans, who dream
of retirement as the natural outcome and reward for dedicating most of their
lives providing for themselves and their families, would enjoy and benefit the
most from retirement. The sad truth is
that a good proportion of them (> 1/3rd) can no longer afford to
retire at 65 y/o - with the reality of the present faltering economy, their zero
balance savings accounts, an insidiously creeping credit card debt, and the increasing
cost of living. Many Middle Americans must
somehow survive on their social security benefits that average $1200/ month to
support themselves and families in retirement.
Moreover, many feel that they are one medical or surgical hospitalization
away from bankruptcy. In 2010, 16% of the American workforce was composed of
citizens > 65 y/o as compared to 14% 20 years earlier. The concept of retirement for Middle Americans is being replaced by the
realization that what they dreamed in their youth about the progression of
their life’s story is a myth.
WHAT ABOUT
THOSE AMERICANS WHO HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO RETIRE? To be sure, not everyone with a successful
career needs to retire. There are those
who genuinely enjoy their work. They
feel no compunction to change their lives as it approaches the final chapters. I must admit that I initially felt sorry for
those individuals. I felt they suffered
from tunnel vision and lacked perspective.
I have since changed my view.
There are those who deeply and sincerely continue to work because they
love their lives in the present as it reflects the blueprint of their past. They
see their future as a natural continuum.
The security and sanctity that it gives them is not to be criticized or
trivialized. It is indeed their personal
resolution and I applaud their positive, decisive affirmation.
CLUELESS IN
RETIREMENT: But what if you are successful in what you do, take great pride in
your accomplishments, are acknowledged by others in the field, and have stowed
enough away to live comfortably in retirement except for one small detail? -
YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH YOURSELF. This rather crazy notion is not so crazy when
you get these individuals to honestly fess up to - the perils of suddenly having a windfall of free time to contend with. In my experience, the more successful your
career is, the more entrenched you are in your work, the more likely you will
be clueless when it comes to retirement decisions. According,
many will pitifully spend their last living day at work because it is the only way
of life that they know.
ME: I loved
my work – all of it! College, Medical School, Residency and Fellowship; I ended
my education as a Board Certified Neonatologist. My first and only job was at University of
Hawaii. From Director of Neonatology at
Kapiolani Medical Center to gaining a powerful voice in the care given to the
16k+ newborn infants born in Hawaii, from Assistant to Full Professor to
Professor Emeritus, from research director to pseudo Associate Dean for Research
at the Medical School, a few years working in the Chancellor’s Office, leadership
role in numerous large grant programs funded by the National Institutes of
Health, and now (after retirement) in a part-time role assisting new faculty
manage their clinical lives and research goals, as well several other minor roles
funded by federal grants.
I WAS GOOD
AT WHAT I DID: In the end, natural
abilities and skills are easier to cultivate.
I attribute most of my success to my personal attributes, character and
honest hard work. I was a really good
doctor with good clinical judgment. I felt at ease in doing a variety of
medical and surgical procedures even at the most critical time when seconds determined
the fate of the child in question. I found
talking to and interacting with families easy and gratifying, even when the
news was bad or worse. I was a natural leader of peers. I gravitated toward leadership positions in
the Department of Pediatrics, the Medical School, the broader University of
Hawaii, and the national research arena.
I did not regret a minute of that slice
of my life, which was privileged, caring for other humans that were hatched
from the womb in need of my skills and expertise, and caring for those in my
family whose blood I shared.
WHAT I WAS
NOT: But during the three decades of my
most intense work, other than a little tennis, running and weight training, I explored
very little outside interests. I never
read novels, defaulting to medical journals and texts. I couldn't dance or sing, I ventured very
little outside of my daily routine. I did not smile. What I emphatically realized was that what made
me a good doctor, father and husband, was also responsible for what I lacked in
my life. The choice of continuing my life in the solid and secure world that I had
created versus venturing out to the world of the unknown became the crucial
question for my retirement day.
BE BRAVE! In the end, I was brave enough to venture out of my shell. To worlds and activities that were unknown to me…..where my doctor status had no value…where my skills in medicine would provide me no advantage.
WHAT I WANTED
IN RETIREMENT: I wanted to cultivate parts of my brain that heretofore were virgin. I wanted to balance the physical with the intellectual.
I wanted to learn to be a student again.
I wanted to replace the cacophony of the intensive care unit with the sweet melody
of Frank Sinatra. I wanted to replace
the awkward brisk urgency of the work life that I had created with flowing
dance movements. I wanted to replace watching movies with reading books for
pleasure. I wanted to take a nap after
lunch when I got groggy. I wanted to
travel to places unknown and unfamiliar. I wanted the freedom to think, to dream,
to prepare a healthy salad and write my blog. I wanted to see the cup as both
half empty and half full instead of always half empty. I wanted
to feel alive, to reanimate, rather than remain comatose in the unconscious
word of the familiar. I wanted learn to smile.
RETIREMENT
AN OXYMORON: I have put as much effort and
thought into retirement as I have done for my career. As such, the term “retirement” is an oxymoron. For me, retirement is a new career that I have
embraced, just as dynamic, meaningful and rewarding as first.
SIX YEARS
LATER: I have achieved most of my “retirement” goals. I have been empowered by the first chapters
of my life to accept realistic goals for - this most exciting and liberating present
stage. I have found that some work, for
me, is preferable to complete and categorical “retirement”. I have learned to limit my work time at
50%. The mornings are for work, the afternoon and
later are for play…simple formula. I am
not the best dancer; I am not the best reader.
And I have
learned to enjoy a wonderful lovebird perched on my head! I am as happy as I have
been in my life, and I have leaned once and for all how to smile.
No comments:
Post a Comment