Early in the morning, a message flashes on the mobile phone — “Your classmate has passed away.” For a few moments, the mind goes blank. He was not just a classmate; he was someone with whom I spent five years in the engineering hostel. Laughter, struggles, dreams, examinations — a significant part of life was shared with him.
This was not the first such message. Just two months ago, I received news of another old friend’s demise. And at this stage of life, one slowly realizes that such messages will continue to come more frequently.
Today, in the age of WhatsApp, news reaches us instantly. There was a time when information about someone’s passing arrived days later. Sometimes through a telegram, sometimes through a “lightning call,” and often through a simple postcard carrying sad news. The younger generation today may not even know what telegrams or lightning calls were. Times have changed, communication has changed, but the reality of death has not.
Those of us who have crossed the age of 75 are, in a way, living a “bonus life.” Due to medical advancements and improved lifestyles, life expectancy has increased, and many people now reach this age. Yet, with advancing age comes a quiet fear.
A slight pain in the chest immediately raises anxiety — “Could this be a heart attack?”
If we feel tired while walking or exercising, we begin to wonder if the body is failing.
And when sleep breaks in the middle of the night, the mind starts worrying — “What will happen after I am gone?”
Such thoughts gradually affect both our peace of mind and our health.
But should this phase of life be spent in fear and worry? I believe the answer is no. This is the time to live with greater wisdom, balance, and positivity.
The first priority must be health. Yoga, breathing exercises, light workouts, and regular walking — whatever is possible should be continued consistently. Growing older does not mean becoming inactive. The more active the body remains, the more stable and optimistic the mind stays.
The second important aspect is staying connected with family. No matter how much wealth or success one may have earned in life, in the final years what matters most is companionship and emotional support. And true support usually comes from family.
It is also a harsh reality that one life partner will inevitably leave before the other. Nature has perhaps designed life in such a way that both do not depart together. Therefore, emotional preparedness also becomes important.
Another matter that deserves timely attention is the proper planning of one’s assets and responsibilities. Preparing a will, organizing important documents, or distributing part of one’s wealth during one’s lifetime can bring immense mental peace.
At the same time, balance is necessary. One should not become so emotional that everything is handed over to others while keeping nothing for oneself. We do not know how many more years God has granted us or what financial needs may arise in the future. Those we depend upon today may themselves face difficulties tomorrow.
Wisdom lies in maintaining love, security, and self-respect together.
Ultimately, death is not a tragedy but an eternal law of nature. Whoever comes into this world must leave one day. What remains in our hands is whether we spend our remaining years in fear or live them smiling, active, and inspiring others.
If every morning we wake up thinking, “This day too is a gift from God,” then perhaps this “bonus phase” of life can become the most beautiful phase of all.
Author
The author is the founder of the Never Say Retire mission. In order to achieve this goal, he also runs this website and his Facebook group Never Say Retire Forum has Hundreds and Thousands of members today.
