Strive to serve others – through work and in retirement

Retirement has been described as “twice the man and half the pay.”

Retirement is a fairly new concept in American culture. It was introduced in the late 19th century. Many who retire enjoy their new lifestyle. But for the moment, let us consider the following.

We were made to work. And work, in its purest form, is serving others. We are at our best when serving others. We may not work at the same job all our lives, but we can always find ways to serve in some capacity. At no time in our lives should we come to the point where we no longer serve others and only spend our time seeking our own enjoyment. Some people may decide to do various types of volunteer work after retirement. And if you are truly providing something that people need, don’t be surprised if they are willing to pay you for it. If it makes you feel better, you can donate much of your earnings to charity.

You want your life to count. Stay in the game and perfect your ability to provide what other people need. It’s better to wear out, instead of rusting out.

Ken Albrecht is president of Reliable Propane in Clarence Center, N.Y. Visit reliablepropane.com.