By Lee Hyon-soo
Retirement is a phase usually celebrated for newfound freedom. But it can paradoxically lead to a sense of social alienation. As a matter of fact, that was exactly what I experienced firsthand after I retired, finding myself disconnected from the vibrant social network that I had navigated daily as an international banker.
The transition from a bustling professional life to a sedate existence left me grappling with a void that needed to be filled. In my quest to overcome this sense of isolation, I turned to the power of words, finding solace and connection through prolific writing on various social media platforms. Let me elaborate.
Retirement seems to be a double-edged sword. While it offered respite from the demands of a career, it also severed the ties that bound me to a structured social environment. While I worked as a seasoned moneyman, my days used to be filled with professional and social interactions with many people of diverse backgrounds. The vanishing of this network after retirement created a vacuum that left me feeling adrift in the sea of solitude.
In my pursuit of reconnecting with society, I stumbled upon the therapeutic potential of writing. Initially, it was a personal endeavor — a way to articulate my thoughts, emotions and reflections. The act of putting pen to paper (actually, fingers to keyboard) became a cathartic process, helping me find new meaning in my life.
After I realized that social media is a powerful platform for self-expression and reconnection, Facebook, blogs and other online spaces became my canvases through which I was able to share my experiences, insights and musings with a wide audience. What’s more, the digital realm bridged the geographical gaps, enabling me not only to reconnect with my old friends and acquaintances who reside in several countries where I had worked for some years on end, but also to forge new connections with like-minded individuals.
Indeed, the act of prolific writing on social media platforms allowed me to express myself and facilitated the creation of a virtual community. Through shared experiences, discussions and collaborations, I discovered a sense of belonging that transcended physical boundaries. The interactions with my online audience became a source of camaraderie, compensating for the social void left by retirement.
Furthermore, writing prolifically on social media platforms became a journey of continuous learning. The digital landscape provided opportunities to explore diverse topics, engage in discussions and stay intellectually stimulated. This pursuit of knowledge and connection further fueled my sense of purpose and helped me counteract the alienation that retirement initially imposed.
At the risk of repeating myself, my activity on social media not only became a means of self-expression but also a powerful tool for reconnecting with society. Through the creation of a virtual community, I discovered that the void left by retirement could be filled with meaningful interactions, shared experiences and a renewed sense of purpose. As I continue to write prolifically in this digital realm, I find myself not only overcoming the sense of alienation but also embracing a vibrant and dynamic chapter in my life as a retiree.
Lee Hyon-soo ([email protected]) is a retired international banker and the author of the book “Ramblings of A Wanderer,” a collection of essays on a variety of topics.
English (United States) ·