Dear all,

Just received below article from my whatApps group:

*朱镕基* *谈退休生活，让多少人无地自容！*

原国务院总理朱镕基，退休已十多年，在退休生活当中如何处事待人？他提出了十个切记，很有启示！

Zhu Rongji was premier of China over the period 1998-2003, serving when the president was Jiang Zemin. He has thus retired for around 15 years. He discussed post retirement life and offered 10 points that retirees should consider. These are very inspirational advices.

*第一要切记*，

岁数大了不是本钱,心里不要那么多“应该”“不应该”,喊你一声“老头儿”没有什么错,叫你一声“老先生”是对方好教养，有人给你让个座，一定要说声“谢谢”，那是有幸碰到了一个大好人；

Point 1.

Advancing age is not a “credit”. Don’t go around setting rules on what ought/ought not; if you are addressed as “old man”, its ok. If you’re addressed as “Mr.”, that person is well mannered. When you’re offered a seat, you must respond with “thank you”, being lucky to meet a gracious man.

*第二要切记*，

“想当年”不是人人爱听的话，如今不是忆苦思甜的年代，没有人愿意享受你的光荣历史和苦难经历，时代毕竟不同了，你吃过的野菜，现在变成高档佳肴，你坑荒造田，现在变成破坏生态，因此,“想当年”的话题要适可而止；

Point 2.

“Remember the past” are words not everybody likes to hear. The present era is not to regurgitate the sorrows or joys of the past. No one is willing to listen to your glorious or painful past, times have changed. The wild vegetable you ate in the past may have now become a delicacy. Your cultivation practices to prevent famine previously may be regarded as damaging to environment now. As such, any matters of the past are best be appropriately limited.

*第三要切记*，

少管闲事，特别是家中的事，孙辈的教育是子女的事，不是你的责任，与子女相处,千万不要罗里罗唆，要有政协的位子，既要到位又不能越位或错位，大事表个态，听不听别计较；

Point 3

Stay out of trouble, don’t be busybody, grandchildren’s education is not your responsibility. If you stay with the children, never gossip. Be a moderator; be clear to stay within limits and not to be biased. In major issues, just state the broad perspectives, and don’t bother whether the parties concerned consider them or not.

*第四要切记*，

年轻人一定比你忙，你想孩子，可以打个电话；孩子想你了，可能连打个电话的时间也没有，千万要记住，为这种事情较真抱怨多了会“两败俱伤”，孩子来看你，千万不要找理由强留着，能抽出几分钟来看你就是好事了，如果不给孩子一个宽松环境，今后看你的时间会越来越少；

Point 4.

The younger generations will definitely be busier than you. If you miss your children, you can give them a call. On the other hand if children are thinking of you, they may not have the time to make a phone call. Don’t be too serious over this matter or else it will end up in lose-lose situation. If children pay you a visit don’t try to look for reasons to retain them longer. Accept it if they can spare the time to visit you. If you don’t give them such flexibility they may decide to have lesser visits in future.

*第五要切记*，

自愿付出的别想着要回报，不要总把为别人做的那些事挂在嘴上，“尊老爱幼”，永远要把“爱幼”放在第一位，因为朝阳总比夕阳更美好，记住“付出”时送给别人的东西，千万不要想着要补回来，那会让别人不愉快；

Point 5

Do not expect reward in exchange of what you willingly gave away. Don’t always repeat what you have done for others. “Respect the seniors, love the juniors”, should be reset as “Love the junior” first, because sunrise is definitely more glorious than sunset. Remember, those things which you gave away, never ever think that you need to be rewarded, as this will cause unhappiness to others.

*第六要切记*，

不要总想着要改变别人，大冷天邻居家女孩子穿短裙丝袜那是人家喜欢，老伴做事丢三落四，脾气暴躁乱骂人，那也是多年养成的顽疾，其实你也很难改变，与其这样，不如来个和平共处，这样总比指手画脚更让人喜欢；

Point 6

Don’t always think of changing others. If the neighbor’s children choose to wear short skirts and stockings in very cold weather, it is their liking. Your old spouse got the habit to mess up things or easily throw tantrums, which must have been brought about over the years, which is difficult for you to change now. It might just as well that you bear with each other, and not to show “spider fight” to amuse the neighbors!!!!

*第七要切记*，

处事要大度一点，钱多钱少都要爽快大度，子女买东西孝敬您也一定要说声谢谢，把养老金用好也是一种智慧，当然积蓄全部花光也不是个办法，要适当；

Point 7

Whatever the dealings be broad minded and somewhat generous. Whether the amount of money involved is large or small, the attitude must be joyful and generous. If children bought gifts to show respect, you have to thank them. It is wise to use the reserve fund for old age, of course not to deplete all but appropriate amount.

*第八要切记*，

邋邋遢遢也不是小事，人老了懒一点可以，但千万不要懒在穿衣戴帽，洗刷卫生上，要整洁干净，别因为自己邋邋遢遢影响家庭生态，要知道你的穿戴整洁不是个人的事情，那是家庭的招牌和子女的脸面，你自己不在乎，但很多人是在乎的；

Point 8

Unkempt and untidy is not a trivial matter. It is ok to laze slightly when old but not to slacken on proper attire, on healthy clean habits. Don’t let your shabby habits affect you family. You appearance and habits is not your individual matter, these also project the family image and reflection upon your children social status. Be mindful, if you don’t give a damn, many others may condemn!!!!!

*第九要切记*，

千万不要把家里东西样样都存起来，像个旧货店，杂货铺，有些东西要及时更新，说不定今后花钱处理掉也不容易；

Point 9

For goodness sake, don’t collect and keep everything in the house, like recycle shop. Some things have to be replaced with time. There may be things which may not be easily or cheaply rid off later.

*第十要切记*，

不要老想靠子女消除寂寞，根本还是靠自己，放飞是小家庭的梦想，即使自己独守长夜也要勇敢面对，朋友，储蓄友谊，才是老年人应当尽早做的事，这样，当你不能走动时，依然可以给朋友打个电话，去交流美好的话题；

*朱镕基的退休忠告*，

说得太好了！值得每个中老年人看看，朋友看到了会感激你！!

Point 10

Don’t expect children to help you to rid off boredom. Better depend on own self. Live your own dream; strive on your own bravely against all odds. Build friendship so when you are unable to walk about, you can call your friends for chats.

Thank you

P/S: All retirees are welcome to I3investor to talk everything under the sun “想当年” and to rid off boredom. Live your own dream; strive on your own bravely against all odds. Build friendship so when you are unable to walk about, you can live chats with many commentators in i3.