Lao Xing lived an empty life after retirement, and chose to play mahjong and square dance
Lao Xing quit his job and officially retired at home. At first, I was able to adapt to a quiet life, but it didn't take long for a sense of emptiness to develop. The once busy work and life are gone, the children are also independent families, and Lao Xing and his wife are only left with each other.
There was too much time to do nothing, and Lao Xing felt that life lacked meaning.
In order to pass the time, Lao Xing chose many activities that retirees are keen on - mahjong and square dancing. After playing mahjong and dancing to music, Lao Xing temporarily filled the emptiness of life.
But the problems of this way of life are also gradually exposed, and Lao Xing gradually feels that they do not really illuminate his heart, but are just doing meaningless mechanical movements, and true happiness has not been improved.
These days, Lao Xing will sit at the mahjong table or in the corner of the dance hall in a daze, watching the mechanical hand automatically play cards or wave, but his heart is not reacting. Once upon a time, Lao Xing would also be happy to win a mahjong game or dance the right dance, but now all this has become a repetitive process, which no longer brings him surprise and satisfaction.
Lao Xing found that group life is easy to lose oneself and produce interpersonal problems
At the mahjong table, Lao Xing met a group of retired old people. These old people have very different personalities, but they can talk hotly when they get together. Lao Xing is often coaxed by them to have a few more drinks and have a good time.
Gradually, however, Lao Xing found himself more and more gregarious, and it was difficult for him to stick to his own ideas, and he was often swayed by the choices of other old people. For example, the dishes and location of the party, Lao Xing did not fully agree with it in his heart, but it was difficult to raise objections in the face of everyone's decision.
In the square dance troupe, Lao Xing and other elderly women danced similar dances and listened to uniform music. Sometimes Lao Xing was really tired and wanted to rest for a while, but when he saw that others were still moving, Lao Xing continued to jump.
Lao Xing didn't want to be the one to spoil the atmosphere of the team.
Gradually, Lao Xing felt that he was lost in the life of the group, and it was difficult to listen to his inner voice. Although the gregarious temporarily gained the pleasure of relieving loneliness, these activities consumed a lot of time, and Lao Xing began to neglect housework, and there was a lot less communication with his wife.
Recently, Lao Xing had some arguments with the old man at the mahjong table. The reason is that Lao Xing wants to change to a new style of play, but everyone else adheres to the original rules.
The two sides were at a stalemate, and there was a temporary rift in the relationship. Lao Xing realized that he had been assimilated a lot by group life, and even his little pleasures had been lost.
He needs to get out of this mechanical life and get back to the feeling of being himself.
Lao Xing realized that he needed "new three things" to fill his retirement life
After these days of observation and feeling, Lao Xing realized that it was not enough to just play mahjong and square dance. They don't really satisfy their hearts, but they tend to lose themselves.
Lao Xing didn't want to waste his life after retirement, and he firmly believed that he still needed to find the "new three things" to enrich this life.
Lao Xing spent some time observing the old people around him. He found that those elderly people who live happily and meaningfully have three common characteristics: first, they like to be alone and recuperate, and they do not reach the group; Second, they will find a place they like to live in for a long time and truly enjoy the subtleties of life; Thirdly, they have not given up their passion for life and will continue to actively contribute to others or society.
These three lifestyles can make up for the lack of just playing mahjong and square dancing, and they provide a slow life, a deep life, and a meaningful life, respectively. Lao Xing is very interested in trying, and he believes that as long as he really puts himself into it, he will be happier and better than mechanical entertainment.
Lao Xing can't wait to embark on this "new three" journey. He meticulously drew up a plan of action, and the first step was to temporarily withdraw from the noisy mahjong and dance groups; The second step is to go to a remote village to live for a period of time, grow crops and take care of the land. The third step is to use your professional knowledge to share your experience by holding online lectures.
Lao Xing believes that as long as he takes action, his retirement life will shine brightly.
Spend time alone and recuperate, and find the slow pace of life and yourself
The first practice is solitary retreat. Lao Xing decided to avoid the crowd for a period of time and meditate and recuperate. He chose to rent a quaint mountain house and get away from it alone.
When he first arrived at the mountain house, Lao Xing needed to adapt to the quiet environment. Without the bombardment of TVs and mobile phones, Lao Xing's brain seemed empty. So Lao Xing carried out activities such as writing diaries, reading books, and planting flowers to enrich his time.
Gradually, he regained a sense of peace and ease.
In the mountain house, Lao Xing finally had plenty of time to talk to him. He does not need to be reconciled to any group, nor is he bound by secular rules. Lao Xing was in a daze and pondering without distraction, letting his brain drift into the distance.
He found that he still had so many thoughts and emotions hidden in the past, but they had been hidden by work and parties for many years.
Being alone allowed Lao Xing to find back the voice in his heart. He often stared at the mountain scenery outside the window in a daze, allowing his thoughts to wander. Sometimes Lao Xing suddenly woke up, and it turned out that he still had these views and thoughts hidden in his heart.
These precious ideas must be recorded and not allowed to be swept under the rug. Lao Xing picked up the pen of his youth again, and he wanted to write down all these thoughts, which was the best gift that solitude brought him.
Go back to your hometown and feel the depth of life in your favorite places
Lao Xing, who ended his life in the mountains, did not return to the city immediately, but came to a remote village as planned. This is Lao Xing's hometown, where he spent his carefree years as a child.
Seeing the green wheat fields and familiar land, Lao Xing burst into tears.
In the countryside, Lao Xing relearned the day-to-day farm work of cultivating land, sowing seeds, watering, weeding, and picking. The smell of the earth came to his face, and Lao Xing felt the hard work of labor and the joy of harvest.
He found that he was truly happy, and this simple and simple life was exactly what Lao Xing wanted.
The people of the village are busy in the fields during the day, and in the evening they gather together to chat, play chess, and sing opera. Without the pursuit of efficiency and planning, they live a comfortable life.
Lao Xing also often joined in the conversation and talked comfortably with the villagers until late at night. Slowly, Lao Xing found the rhythm that life should have and lived a delicious life.
In the process of this deep life, Lao Xing experienced the hardships and joys of labor and harvest. This kind of ups and downs was something that Lao Xing had not experienced in the city before, and they constituted a very precious period in Lao Xing's life.
Lao Xing is very grateful that he made the decision to return to his hometown and found the essence of life here.
Continue to shine and put your life into a meaningful cause
After living in the countryside for a while, Lao Xing returned to the city as originally planned. Upon his return, instead of integrating into the mahjong table and dance troupe again, he began the project of "glowing".
Lao Xing decided to continue to devote his life to a meaningful cause. He has registered a number of non-profit organizations and actively participated in some social activities, mainly for the elderly and poor children.
Lao Xing provides them with all-round help such as life guidance and psychological counseling according to his professional knowledge.
At the same time, Lao Xing also recorded many knowledge popularization videos on the Internet. These videos cover Lao Xing's lifelong work experience and life insights, hoping to help more confused people find their way.
On the first day of uploading the video, Lao Xing received many positive messages, saying that he benefited a lot. This sense of accomplishment and value is exactly what Lao Xing desires.
After some hard work, Lao Xing found that his life was re-injected. By helping others, Lao Xing gained a sense of spiritual fulfillment. Even though he is physically old, mentally Lao Xing looks much younger.
He is known as the "big brother on the Internet" and often receives thank-you letters and gifts, which make Lao Xing feel very relieved and proud.
Retirement is not the end of life, but also the need to live a life of depth and meaning
After experiencing this series of life experiences, Lao Xing has come to an important life conclusion - retirement does not mean that life is over. He always thought that retirement was to lie at home and enjoy the blessings, but now he understands that life after retirement still needs to be actively explored, and he can't waste his time.
Lao Xing realized that no matter how old he was, as long as he was still in this world, he should let the flowers of life continue to bloom, rather than expecting decay. He saw many examples of old people who were young in spirit and would not give up the possibility of life because of physical aging.
Therefore, the life after retirement needs to have depth and meaning, rather than short-sightedness and superficiality. It can be a journey of self-discovery, re-examining the essence of life and finding the mission that life has given us.
We all need this process to awaken our hearts and move on.
Today, Lao Xing no longer simply repeats the lifestyle of mahjong and square dancing, but continues to explore the possibilities of life with curiosity and adventure. It shows that his spirit and mind are still full of vitality, and he continues to enjoy the pleasure of the source of life.
Lao Xing decided to step out of his original social circle and find a new way of life
After experiencing this series of life experiences, Lao Xing completely stepped out of the original social circle of mahjong and dance. He realized that old age should not be confined to a few fixed forms of entertainment, that there was no way out.
Instead, Lao Xing took the initiative to embrace a new way of life. He chose a rhythm that suited him and lived a solitary life, a deep life, and a glowing life.
These ways made Lao Xing feel inner satisfaction and regain the vitality of life.
Now, old friends who come to Lao Xing to play mahjong or dance will be disappointed. They can no longer have a place in Lao Xing's world. Instead, the words on the thank-you letters from the lonely elderly and poor children outlined a new chapter in Lao Xing's life.