Autumn is the season between summer and winter. It is the time when the trees shed their leaves and the furred animals grow thicker fur to face the harsh winter ahead of them.

Some people who retire from an active career may think that they have entered the autumn of their lives. While its true that every beginning has an end, the retirement from a career is not the end of life. While trees shed their leaves and look bareen for a while, they do grow again with fresh leaves and brighten us during the spring season.

Similarly, this phase of transition may be a great opportunity to live life all over again. One could pursue one’s passions . We hear of such inspiring stories every day that our glass can never be half empty. It has to be always half full for us if we believe so.

Today I read about a ninety four year young lady contesting a civic elections in Chennai. This lady feels that she still has a lot to give back to society. We have super stars in the film industry who have crossed seventy five but still surprise us with their histrionic skills and are in every ad we see on TV.

Life is all what we make of it. If we live life as if today is the first day of ours, it will be so. On the other hand, if we think that we have reached the end of the road, then we lose hope and even faith in ourselves. It is like driving on a forest road. One needs to believe that the ever twining road will lead us out of the jungle. If we lose hope, we can only end as fodder for the wildlife.

We need to plan for every stage of our life and be willing to unlearn and relearn every day. Technology is transforming our lives every day. We have opportunities to learn from multiple platforms in every sphere. Money may not be a constraint to learn anymore. If at all, there is a barrier, it is in our minds. The sooner we realise it, the better it is for us.

I am amazed at the ability of people of different ages learning different skills at their own will and pace. You can see a child prodigy playing an instrument which an ustad may be ashamed of. On the other hand, I read about a globe trotting lady, who starts her journey to see the world and live her dreams at the young age of 60 and is till pursuing it vigorously at 78.

I spent my entire life in the corporate world of HR. Having spent so, I may think I have mastered this subject. But today I realise I have so much to learn even in a field I have spent my whole career. I do not know much about artificial intelligence, block chain or meta verse and how it is shaping the future of HR. I could possibly spend the rest of my life learning and still may not be able to catch up.

Last but not the least, I have a great opportunity to give back to society. I can share with the world and the younger generation of how not to makes mistakes which I did in my life. I can mentor them and guide them to live life fully.

Autumn is beginning of a new life. We need to realise it.

S Ramesh Shankar

6th February 2022