work | Ranjan's Writings

Photo caption: From within four walls of my office into the open air, into the sunlight.

Photos: Ranjan Mukherjee. Left, at work in my office. Right, in the open, in retirement.

A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted. —Ecclesiastes

Over the holidays, while having a good time with friends and family, I wondered why people feel the need to continue working when they do not have to. What compels them? COVID-19 has made us rethink what we value most in life. People enjoyed working from home spending more time with their families. Why not take it a step further? Make ‘family’ the center of our lives, not ‘work’. So, why don’t they?

Let’s start with a simple, basic question—what makes a person happy?

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What makes a person happy?

I grew up watching my father leave for work every day in the morning and return in the evening. He worked hard, paid for the schooling of two children, built a house for his family and, in time, retired. I watched him transition smoothly and happily into retirement. He would sit on the porch, play with his grandchildren and leisurely watch the world go by. He had a peaceful, beatific look on his face. That picture remained with me. To me, ‘retirement’ is associated with peace and happiness, of a life well lived.

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