Just one of the pleasures of being officially retired is that one has the leisure to do pretty much what one likes. Retirement is a time to be aware of all the things one has not yet done ; all those things that one would have done if only there had been the time. But it must not be allowed to become a time of regret or reproach ; not a time for angst over missed opportunities. There need be no recrimination attached to our omissions for, after all, if one was not reading High Lit. or not exploring the wilder forests and rivers or not driving Formula One cars, it was only because one was doing something else instead.
I can remember reflecting on this theme when I was young ; and remember thinking at the time that I had just hit upon an original idea ; a new insight into the nature of the world. Such is the vanity of youth. But such vanity was dispelled when I came to reflect more effectively on things I had read (in a casual sort of way) in childhood. And the vanity was decisively crushed when I dipped into a book of short stories which illustrated dramatically just what I had supposed was my piece of ‘original’ thinking ; for I discovered that Beirce and Poe had long since illustrated the theme beautifully and succinctly and memorably. And John Fowles did the same in one of his novels (The French Lieutenant’s Woman?).
The world is such that very often we can usefully do only one thing at a time. The traveller arrives at a junction in the road ; he may turn left or turn right, but not both. You decide on a day out with the children ; you may go to the beach or to the forest, but not both. You sit down to write a blog post ; you may write about this or about that, but not both. To try to do even just two things at the same time generally leads to incoherence.
As it is with small things, so it is with the big. You might decide to be an engineer or you might decide to be a lawyer ; a sailor or a forester ; a teacher or a train driver. It is just possible to have a go at all six of these occupations ; but, if you wish to make your mark upon the world, you generally have to choose just one – at least as a major ; and that choice generally has to be made early. Yes, career choices have to be made at exactly the time when we are least fitted to make a considered judgement.
Painting his word-picture on a wider canvas, Plato made this point in his account of The Myth of Er. This account describes the Pythagorean eschatology, the story of life and death. It is beautifully told and is both heartening and tragic. More importantly, like all enduring myths, it has the ring of truth to it despite its contemporary subject matter.
So life is about choices. And retirement is the time to review one’s choices – without too much regret and without losing sight of the fact that one may at last take up some interest which has lain dormant for so long. And, if you can no longer hope to be what you wanted to be, you can at least write about it. 😉
“What if”s…
I don’t know if you have watched the film Butterfly Effect. A story of a boy who has the ability to turn back in time. Everytime he goes back, he does something to fix a tiny problem, when he returns “today” he sees a very very different life, because his amendment, caused more serious problems.
When we look back and ponder on whatifs, we make the “ceteris paribus” mistake, I think. We imagine what would happen if we had taken the other turn, assuming that all the things we have or don’t have will remain as they are. But is it so?
We often think we have absolute control of our lives, but do we?
Hello, Levent, it’s good to be back. I haven’t seen The Butterfly Effect, but I think I have heard of it. It sounds fascinating. You remind me of the theory that says “everything that can happen does indeed happen”. So, there is an infinite number of universes.
I like the idea that, in another universe, I am a millionaire enjoying a life of well-earned luxury!
On the other hand, there is yet another universe in which I live in absolute misery… So I think I will stay right here in good company. 😉
P.S: It’s nice to see you writing again Jamie. And I loved the poem too.
I have joined you Jamie so you can’t leave now. We are bound to see it through.
Aha! Reinforcements arrive! Cheers, Ike, it’s good to see you. Indeed, we’ll see whatever through. 🙂
Hi Jamie
I am pleased to hear the old Jamie.
We are going through a tough battle with Internet connecting time and I am only doing what I absolutely have to but at least I have to let you know that a 36 year old adolescent daughter called me at 17:00 pm GMT to confirm that she had just walked into her own place of residence in your vicinity.
I survived, but just. In fact it became obvious to her during her short visit that her old man had not acquired any additional learning over the past year that he had indeed slumped in knowledge and general matters on which she had learned so much in the meantime that she now knows everything. I even got a lesson about World Politics.
But I did get some nice stuff too and shall write you about it.
Don’t leave us again.
Ike
Hello, Ike,
One day we really must have a session swapping the joys and miseries of being in the clutches of thirty-something adolescent daughters! In my case, it seems like only yesterday that I was counting their freckles and pulling their pigtails. Now I receive lectures and homework assignments in every subject imaginable.
And it’s all for the best. Where would I be without their guidance and goodness?
So, you have your Keeper living in the East of England now? I shall watch my step, just in case! But, more importantly, it’s nice to hear that she has her own residence – I’ll bet she will have it looking like a palace e’er long.
Keep up your studies on World Politics,and be sure to take a contrary view to hers – just to keep her on her toes. 😉
Hello Jamie,
This is one of your posts I understand and can relate to; that is not to say the others are “Guff”; far from it. Some of your essays are too intellectual for a simple soul like me.
The multiple choices of the multi tasking generation puzzle me. How can they choose to play music in the background while writing or reading? Music is for listening to and I still love nestling down and having a shock and aural attack by bands like Queen, Iron Maiden and Metallica. In contrast, reading is for somewhere quiet.
Wishing you a happy retirement and enjoy all the choices you make.
JW
Morning, JW,
I agree with you about background music ; I cannot ignore good music, so never play it while doing anything important. Well, that’s not quite true, for I have compiled one disc of very soft, very familiar tunes for company when writing. It’s important to get the volume right – too soft, and I strain to hear it – too loud, and it intrudes.
My poor ears are saying that you can keep your aural attacks ! 🙂