We can have an enjoyable life

Treasure Pot 2009

We can have an enjoyable life


The “Treasure Pot” brings us closer among our members and offers facilities for sharing thoughts which are meaningful and useful. We feel the last year slipped away too fast to bring in the New Year with lots of hopes as well as challenges. We welcome this challenge; let’s see if we can organize our life pattern to ensure better life for us and all those around us.


This article comes in handy for all those who are in proximity with retirement age. Those who have crossed the boundary and are placed in the senior citizens’ bracket will also find the article equally useful, because changes can be effected now; forgetting what has been lost earlier.

We are familiar with the words ‘chance ‘and ‘choice’. Most of us conduct ourselves in a way as things come up, leaving everything to ‘chance’. We have good explanations to offer to support this life style, saying that we proceed on the basis of what life offers to us. Days, weeks, months and years are spent in this fashion. Unpleasant episodes do come up and we have nothing in defense except to weep over the spilt milk. We make our life miserable and cause untold sufferings to our family members. We must try to avoid what can be avoided.

That takes us to a better life style based on ‘choice’ factor. It is a simple exercise which all of us can do with ease. As human beings,





we have some goals and a ‘wish list’ and if things happen in that pattern, we are likely to feel happy. Those around us in our life will also feel happy with a better quality of life. We can certainly program a better life by adopting choice factor.

Thus we find a sea of difference between a life of chance and a life of choice. We take decisions for such a change. Let’s find out how we can plan a life based on such a simple formula.

We do not know ourselves properly, unless we introspect and reflect. A simple exercise like “SWOT” analysis can do wonders for us. How do we do this?


SWOT is a familiar exercise, but for those who are new to this term, let me explain this. S means Strengths; W means Weaknesses, O- Opportunities and T-Threats. Take an exercise book; write down all your strengths, like say, honesty, punctuality, health etc. Complete the list as best as you can. Then write down weaknesses- this is a difficult matter, but still do it as honestly as possible. Write down opportunities like being a resident of Mumbai, connected to some important people, good education etc. The last item is threat- the fears that one may have like getting sick, fear of transfer, fear of loss of business or position etc. Write down all these four aspects as detailed as possible and in the best honest manner. As the answers are meant for yourself, you can be as open and honest. After all one cannot bluff to oneself. Once you complete the exercise, you have unburdened yourself and in the process known your real self in a much better and objective way. These are excellent tools for our life management.





Once this is over, write down in points your short term and long term goals- write down only important points. It is also a difficult exercise to write down the goals. Having done, you know the goals you have and also your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. You have to focus on important goals by maximizing your strengths, minimizing your weaknesses, using your opportunities and taking care of the threats you feel. The conclusion is one of the best directions you have in your life to make a choice, a determined choice to work on and get results. If you proceed on this simple formula, you will reach unexpected best results, so far unknown in your earlier life. Here is a magic formula followed by achievers the world over, make use of it with advantage.

You have cast away chance and adopted choice for success. Hearty congratulations for giving the best gift to yourself.

Attitude makes or mars life. Adopt a positive attitude all the time, never accept negative attitude. Even in times of great trials and problems, adopt a positive attitude and you find your life changing towards success. In case you need practical hints, read the book “Positive Attitude Makes All The Difference” by Dr Norman Vincent Peale( The book is available at St Paul’s Book Depot, Bandra- Cost Rs.50)

What are the important things one should take care of while being a Senior Citizen?

Health assumes the factor in life. You have some hints on your body responses and behaviour. Adopt the best formula which suits you and stick on a nourishing diet, keeping evening meals light. Walking for half an hour daily and keeping the water volume adequate in body can give you good results.



Attitude is the key to happiness. Attitude of gratitude is an excellent formula. Say thanks to God Almighty for all the favours He grants everyday. Never adopt the negative attitude see hope and success every time you see some difficult times ahead. Many senior citizens are unhappy over some behaviour of close people in the family or work life. Please understand that each one has a style of thinking and doing things, it is difficult to bend them to your style of thinking and action. Take a broad attitude and go about doing your duties, rather than sit on judgment of others, however close they are. It is almost impossible to make people do what exactly what you want them to do. If you realize this simple truth, you will have better days ahead.

Self-reliance is one of the best attributes in life. Try to do things yourself as best as possible, do not lean on others where you can avoid it. Try to understand that your spouse is also getting old and therefore it is good to be doing things by self.

Activity of your choice is yet another important factor. If you have the skills and ability, you may continue to do some useful work and earn in the process. By doing this, you are using your mind and body for good things and improving your finances. Take care not to overstretch on this area. Self-reliance is best achieved by generating your own income as long as you can.

Social work at this station in life can be rewarding. Millions of our countrymen are at a disadvantage in varying proportions. Choose an activity of your choice and help the poor, the sick, the deprived and also those who are very old. Your small help can make their life better and thereby you can sublimate your own life.





Read the newspaper, a good book, prayer book and listen to light music of your choice. You get a better and peaceful life by taking to such an activity. Managing a get-together of like minded people occasionally or an outing may do well for you.

Pursuit of spiritual goal is yet another focus area. As most of the worldly responsibilities are over while being a senior citizen, you can think of reading spiritual books and put into practice the concepts which can elevate the life level.

Most of us have common worries, like unfinished legal documents. It can be property or tenancy rights, getting documents like

Electricity, telephone bills, ration card, bank papers, voter card, insurance policy validity etc on to right names. By attending things as early as possible, you will avoid gnawing fears and anxieties. Most of us have misplaced documents, keys, pass and cheque books, it is good to locate these at your earliest, rather than postpone. Delays cause unwanted worries and sometimes unseen problems too. Investments on speculative areas, spreading out financial risks, avoiding investments on chit funds and deposits on cooperative banks however long standing etc are good tips to peaceful life. A properly executed “Will” and not too late is a must for everyone.

Believing in God and doing right things are good passport to enjoyable life.


Indian Development Foundation (IDF) is a leading National NGO spread out in India doing humanitarian work in the fields of health,




education and rural development. Those inclined to participate are welcome to contact IDF, Jal Ratan, Bangur Nagar, Goregaon West, Mumbai 400 104 Tel:022- 2876 2008- 2876 3008 or Email Ids : idfmumbai@gmail.com or idfark@gmail.com

(Dr.A.R.K.Pillai is a Senior Social Scientist and President of IDF. Receipient of several national and international awards and honours, he contributes regularly to various journals. He is the Editor-in-Chief of Joint Action Magazine.)