Would you like to retire early? What would you like to do after retirement? A lot of people educate us about working hard, having your retirement planned, retire early and start enjoying life. However, do you realize the elderlies at home, or your elderly relatives are mainly doing 3 things every day: Eat, Watch TV & Sleep? “Purpose”, “Belong”, “Right Tribe”, are three of the nine keys to longevity, according to Blue Zone Project. Many people lost their directions, and do not know what they get out of bed for, and what they live for. Finding a purpose does not only lead you to longevity, but also helps you to fight cancer, and stay away from recurrence. Without the will, even the best diet knowledge, and the best lifestyle practice is given to one, he has no will to make that change. Douglas Choong, an "old" friend of mine, a friend 50 years older than me. He retired as a banker at the age of 55, he then started getting involved in rally and overlanding, from moto crossing to 4WDs. He's one of the pioneers organizing overland trips to travel out of Malaysia by land, at the 1980s. He has been through countries and continents throughout the years. Douglas also had multiple surgeries in the past. Doctors' advice is, "stay at home and it's impossible for you to go anywhere in this condition, not even going out for dinner". Yet, in his 80s, he was still on the road for 53days, going through the Himalayans, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Myanmar and Thailand. Some people might find other purposes to get out of the bed, it can be their country, their business, their family, their garden, or their community. Some people still lead a country at his 90s, while some go for voluntary work. For Douglas, organizing overland trips, bringing people to see the world in a different way, is what keeping him going. To my dear friend Douglas, I hope you can keep it going, for the years to come. Have you found your purpose?
37, Jalan SS 20/11, Damansara Kim, 47400 PJ, Malaysia