Retirement, a longer coffee break...

It is the end of term, not a usual one.  A time of mixed emotions

.

Our best wishes go with you…

May you have days full of laughter and happiness…

And may you have a lifetime full of love and dreams achieved – we will remember you.

I wrote this on five beautiful cards that I bought to be given to my senior, or rather “Super” senior teachers who are laying down office this year. A set of teachers who were committed to their jobs on a daily basis – sometimes even when the going got tough.

I wanted to write about the peals of laughter in the department, a cup of coffee before the day starts, in the middle of the day and at the end of the day, the copier which could never be free of paper jams, the notes of appreciation, words of encouragement, the throwing of temper tantrums, the good strong hug that could substitute thousand meaningful words….The list grew and the card was too small for it. And others may say, “These are trivial matters’.

 I meditated on what else to write…

A secure, comfortable retirement is every committed worker's dream. The day has come. You entered a profession dedicated to assisting young people achieve their potential, to revealing or finding their best selves. You have not just fulfilled your duty but have changed the lives of several youngsters. Despite the altered outward appearance, you seem young. The secret am sure is your ability to change people’s lives, sharing the excitement of learning with students and colleagues alike…..

Oh! Again its getting long and the poor small card cannot hold all these…

I read Lamb’s THE SUPERANNUATED MAN and read some farewell speeches for tips. All these prolonged the matter I wanted to pen down.

Then came M.S. Dhoni for my help. He said in an interview,

“I play for the enjoyment of the game and the day I decide to go, I will pack my bags and happily go away."

You taught for the enjoyment of teaching and so you can end when you decide to stop and a teacher who is always a teacher and learner can never do that. Official retirement is just an age reminder.

A good teacher is a doctor who heals ignorance and a good artist who inspires creativity.

And there can never be an end for these responsibilities…Happy teaching, of course teaching will be more happier because henceforth you will allege your time table not someone else in the department..