Becoming Awkward or a Sannyasin?

American society values youth and devotion to the workplace where you are constantly going somewhere or doing something, even if you're 60 years old. William Hamilton of the New York Times recently dug at the negative connotation that is becoming increasingly associated with the word "retirement' in our culture (to read the article, click here: Whatever You Do, Call It Work ). 

According to the AARP in 2005, 69% of people between 45 and 74 years old who were employed or trying to find employment planned to continue working while retired. Today, it is becoming popular for America's older generation to feel socially unaccepted and awkward when they're not employed. People question what they are doing with so much free time. With these conflicting feelings, older Americans continue to work just on a smaller scale. They are feeling a constant pressure to take up anything, as long as it's something. 


When concluding his article, Hamilton mentioned India's Hindu culture. There they approach retirement entirely differently. Hindus embrace the idea of becoming a wanderer, or a sannyasin, who is starting down an unknown path with goals to accomplish.


Our culture obsesses and revolves around stress and work. If you're noting feeling the pressure, you're not working hard enough; no matter if you're hitting 25 or 65. Sometimes it feels like we work ourselves to our death without ever giving ourselves the chance to enjoy life or notice the world around us. 

We need to start looking at how are values are really impacting us. American society needs to adopt the belief of relaxation, and beyond adopting we need to accept it. It is okay to breathe and to have fun otherwise you'll hit insanity easily. Life goes by fast enough, we all need to learn to enjoy it some more.

Even in high school, students really need to know it is okay to give yourself a break; going through Stevenson without one will break you.