When I retired from work (civil service - government office) years ago, I wrote a farewell speech which ended with ' I did it my way' (line taken from Frank Sinatra's famous song).
Well, I should have written, perhaps: 'Despite the corruption, boss incompetence, women discrimination, bureaucracy ...I did it my way' or, 'managed to do it my way'. But I lacked the courage:)
I entered civil service after working as a teacher for seven years in a comprehensive school. I've always wished to be a teacher, but I didn't like what I saw in this type of school, and quit.
On top of it all I got ill. Probably the stress from both places, school and office, caused it. Anyway, that sadly affected my advance to a better rewarded position within the system.
Here's the opening part of the speech (translated from Hebrew) which is an attempt to define my general , rather positive feelings on retirement (in Hebrew it sounds much better).
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'Retirement is a beginning, not beginning of the end
It's an emotional, and significant event
There's expectation for something different and new
Involving social- economic changes too.
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Retirement is not stopping of activity
But rather opportunities in creativity
Concentration on leisure and balance
Transition to a world full of challenge
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Sometimes, retirement closes one door
Opening another one, to explore
The terms of diligence and action
Enterprise , professional satisfaction