BEEN THERE, DONE THAT?

I read a blog written by a close friend of mine... he is a very good writer and i read his blogs regularly... I also call him often and remind him to increase the frequency of his blogs...

One of his latest blogs mentions that he has a feeling of "Been there, Done that"... A few posts earlier, he was mentioning that he feels that he has achieved so much that he can retire...

He is just 26 today, and works as a Project Leader in one of the best companies in India... He is very dedicated and hard-working... His work was often appreciated when we were working together... Even today, he is one of the best people in his team... Not only that, he is a very nice human being and a very helpful individual...

But then, why would one think of retirement only after 4 years of work?

I have seen quite a few friends and relatives reflect similar feelings... I have seen ppl plan retirement in the age group of 45-50 and retire even before their 50's... These ppl are/were significantly successful in their fields and are well respected in their social circle... But then, they retire pretty early in their life... way before they achieve whatever they are capable of... Most of them are in software or ad agencies or in jobs which pay very well...

And then, on the other side of the spectrum, I see people who have a never ending zeal and enthusiasm towards life... Most of these are senior ppl, who have achieved a lot in their life... But, still there is something which keeps them going...

My mother -- she has Masters of Arts in History and Masters in English Literature... has been working for more than 30 yrs... She is a grandmother of a 2 yr old and is over 55 now... But even today, she wants to complete her PhD... She had diabetes and was obese, but has mastered yoga and brought her BP, Sugar and weight under control... She featured on the front page of Times of India because of her yoga activities...

My wife's Uncle -- He is a CEO of 2 companies and is considered a pioneer in his field, so much that his idea can fetch him millions of dollars every year, just out of royalty... He is above 65 and is a grandfather too... But still, he works 20 hrs a day, provides free consultation to upcoming enterpreneurs and sleeps only 4 hrs a day... At this age, he is going to Antartica and wants to ski there...

Another of my wife's uncle -- He is a well respected Doctor, a anaestheologist, with a practicing history of about 15 years... A very social and polite human being is very active with Chinmaya mission... He is 50+ and is very successful in his career... At this age, he is starting to learn classical vocal and wants to perform next year at his annual family get-together...

Another of my wife's uncle -- He is another doctor, a nephrologist, who has been practicing for 20 years now... He has back trouble and cannot do any strenous physical activity... has saved enough for generations to follow... still, he plays cricket regularly, and insists on keeping wickets whenever he plays... everyday, he goes to Bangalore hospital and offers free consultation to the poor and needy...

A few other well known ones like
-- Sachin Tendulkar - after 18 yrs of international cricket, still wants to play more and more...
-- Innumerable Indian politicians - after more than 30-40 years of politics, still want to go and contest more elections...
-- Bill Gates - the richest individual, but still is so active in his corporate life and social work...
-- Tatas and Ambanis and Birlas and Ruias and Bajajs and NRNs and Godrejs and Wadias - all these corporate honchos who are never satisfied with their achievements and want to scale newer heights...

Many such people, whom we see in our daily life, just want to go on and on and on... I cannot mention everyone here, but each one of them is a legend, in their own right... what is it that keeps them going on forever?

Why is it that some people think of retiring early and some keep going on and on... Is it that the people who have come up the hard way never feel like giving it up? Is it that software engineers and ad executives and Management Graduates, who were lucky to get good jobs and fat salaries just out of college, are shallow thinkers and get that sense of achievement very quickly... Is our sense of achievement just a Mirage...

Have we really "Been there, Done that" ?