When Should I Retire?

 When should I retire?

Recently I saw a short film about a man as a routine get up early morning, finish his daily chores,gulp in the hot tea,gather his money purse,railway pass.....his wife hurriedly tucks in his lunch box.....
He reaches the railway station to catch his daily 7.01 am Platform No.1 Local train.....
His wife sitting relaxed with her morning cup of tea and newspaper,as usual.......
Both realise......
Yesterday the man had Retired from his job.There was a grand Retirement Party held in the office....the place of some 3 odd decades of work.....
Both man and his wife had got so much used to this daily routine that it completely slipped from both their minds ....
Now life has changed for both .
Retirement.....in Service Sector.....is mandatory after 60yrs of age( At least most sectors unless a person opts for Voluntary Retirement)
But in certain fields, as long as the person is in a position to perform his duties.....
There is No Retirement.
Kaun Banega Crorepati has been on air for 15 Seasons.
Except for a few seasons, Legendary Actor Shri Amitabh Bacchan has been the host.
Today AB is 81yrs.He is still hosting the popular show.
For an Actor of his calibre.....there is No Retirement. THE SHOW GOES ON AS LONG AB WANTS IT TO GO ON.
Similarly, Doctors with active medical practice have been seen working as long as their body permits them .
Even if they want to retire,their patients force them to carry on .
Actors and Doctors.....
The love shown by people forces them,motivates them to Never Retire.
I want to share few stories of Doctors.
A Professor in a private Medical college was diagnosed with Brain Cancer.He underwent Surgery and lots of Chemotherapy sessions for the same.
The Entire process took toll on his physical health.
The Metastasis lead him to Radiotherapy.
That is where I got to know the Professor.
A very tired,weak man so much in pain used to attend the Radiotherapy treatment sessions.
For a year Professor was able to walk to the centre.
But later,he had to be brought in a wheelchair.
He was extremely weak,worn out......
He used to be accompanied by his assistant each Radiotherapy session.
The assistant informed me " Sir can't even hold a pen to sign the thesis of his students. He is so much in pain and weak.
But he forces himself to reach the department of the Medical college everyday just for those 3 students whose Guide he is.Their degree and career depend on Sir".
It brought tears in my eyes.
The dedication of a Teacher towards his students.......
Teaching is such a Profession where even though you officially Retire from your services......But Mentally the Profession never Retires from you.
Once a Teacher......Forever a Teacher.
No Retirement.
When Should I Retire?
I am still very young to talk on this topic.
But I have been fortunate enough to meet stalwarts ( Not yet met Legend Shri AB) who are so active and energetic at the ripe old age......
Retirement is never there.
If we keep ourselves physically and mentally strong to perform our duties effectively and effectively.....
There need not be " Retirement ".
But if we falter, get exhausted, tired.....
If any complications or life-threatening, or untoward mistake.....or we just fall short in performing our duty.....
It's wise Ego needs to be set aside....
We must Retire.
Ego and Morales can't precede over Line of Responsibility.
When someone else gets involved in our line of duty......
I think one must be judicious about Working and Retirement here.
If we are in a field, where we are given opportunity to work even after Age of Retirement,......
Physical and Mental health needs to be priority.
Daily regular exercise,Yoga,Meditation.
Positivity.
Physically and Mentally strong helps us perform our work effectively, efficiently and responsibly.
I am fortunate to be an Anaesthesiologist who if physically and mentally fit.....can work till my Body allows me.

When we reach an age where Monetary benefit out of the work is no longer the Driving Force towards our Professional commitments,I feel the strong mental Grit and determination to do some kind of Productive Work drives Skilled Professionals towards their commitments. 

Let me clarify,pursuing a Hobby and Passion after Professional Retirement do not get considered in my Blog.

I want to discuss ....

" How far  can I continue with my Highly skilled, stressful Professional Commitments?"

When should One Retire?
When your body shows signs of tiredness while being on Line Of Duty.....
When you feel Dizzy and Dazed while on Duty.....
When you start doubting yourself for the same work you have been performing for so many years....you start feeling unsure,disturbed and anxious while on Line of Duty.
When your vision troubles you,your body tremors,your gait shuffles......your muscles cramp......while on Line of Duty......
When you feel you are forcing yourself to be on Line of Duty......
When work you lived once upon a time......for years......
Starts giving you anxiety and stress....
Drains you emotionally and physically.....
When it becomes " Chore" or " Burden"......
Yes......now it's time to " RETIRE" AND HANG THE BOOTS"......

As Professionals,who are highly skilled, our work contributes a lot to our society and field,when our minds remain still strong but body starts getting tired,I feel we must start " SELECTIVE TAPERING " of our commitments.

Work which doesn't require physical strength,doesn't involve physical and mental stress, but gets appreciated by virtue of our years of experience and intellectualism......one must choose their Line of Duty selectively and wisely. 

The motive daily " I must do some productive work daily"...... must drive you to your workplace in the morning. 

As a young Highly skilled professional, I pray for my dream to never hang my stethoscope and Laryngoscope.....

May Almighty give me strength and motivation to enter my Operation Theatre every day till the end.

- Dr Tripti Milind Galgali
Anaesthesiologist, Hubli.