In
her inspirational book, written in an upbeat and friendly style with
elegantly lucid prose, Dr. Bist draws upon her academic knowledge,
personal experiences and client stories to help NRI retirees live a
happy, purposeful and fulfilling life.
The author’s Indian
upbringing inspired her to use the word masala (‘spices’ in Hindi) as a
metaphor for the necessary ingredients in planning an ideal zestful
retirement. “There are over 30 million Indians living abroad according
to Census Bureaus worldwide,” says author Dr. Anita Bist. “In the
United States alone, there are approximately 3 million NRIs. For many
immigrants, the issues facing retirement can be complex and emotional.
The majority of them struggle to adapt to their adopted land, are
conflicted between Eastern and Western values, miss their homeland, are
torn between living an independent life or with their grown up and/or
married children and grandchildren. Many have fears and anxieties about
insufficient retirement savings, loss of self-esteem, concerns about
health, loneliness and even mortality.
The book focuses on seven
masala areas that are key to planning an ideal retirement. They are:
Money, Health and Wellness; Positive Attitude; Leisure and Travel;
Fulfilling Relationships; Deciding Where to Retire and Self-identity
and Purpose. The author has also included planning tools,
self-assessment questions and practical implementation steps. The
reader will find the chapters informative and insightful regarding the
issues that impact the aging NRIs.
It is important for seniors,
especially women, to be financially literate. The author lists five
factors that can impact retirement finances: Assets and Liabilities;
Retirement Age; Health Status; Cost of Living and Entrepreneurship or
Availability of Part-Time work to supplement income. She also presents
client stories where each client created a retirement filled with
possibility given their economic condition.
Good health is
imperative for an enjoyable retirement. Unfortunately, many seniors
lead sedentary lives in front of TVs and computers, neglect preventive
measures for good health and invite health problems as a result. Dr.
Bist recommends a combination of exercise, good nutrition and stress
management to improve one’s health. As stress levels are at an all-time
high with the current global economy, she also suggests practical ways
that seniors can combat stress.
Dr. Bist emphasizes the need for
a positive attitude and an optimistic outlook combined with a sense of
resiliency and humor to enable one to age with grace and dignity. It is
encouraging that baby boomers with a ‘start-afresh’ attitude are
redefining ‘retirement ‘and calling it ‘rewirement’ or ‘refirement’. As
part of successful retirement planning, it is a good idea to think
about one’s self-identity and sense of purpose. For many women, their
purpose is tied up in their role of motherhood. They feel depressed
when faced with the ‘empty nest syndrome’ as their children leave home
for college. Similarly, many people who defined their sense of purpose
by their job, feel isolated and useless after they retire. To overcome
the emptiness inside, one should develop new hobbies or interests. Dr.
Bist suggests both solo and group leisure activity ideas for reigniting
a sense of purpose. She also recommends travel as a wonderful way to
widens one’s horizons and to learn about how other cultures live. It
also creates new memories and friendships.
When retirement
planning, Dr. Bist says it is very important to make sure that the
spouse and children are on the same wavelength. All too often, one of
the partners may mistakenly assume that the other wants the same exact
things in retirement that they want. She discusses various strategies
that would help with this communication. After retirement one may
need to cultivate new friendships because old friends at work may lose
interest and stop calling. One should make good use of the social media
and new technology not only to make new friends but also to keep in
touch with distant family members including grandchildren.
The
author starts the ‘Where to Retire?’ chapter with a Jawaharlal Nehru
quote “I have become a queer mixture of the East and the West, out of
place everywhere, at home nowhere.” Nehru’s self-realization can apply
to many NRIs who feel out of place when they visit their land of birth
but then also don’t feel like they entirely belong in their adopted
country. Also, due to various factors, not all retirees can retire to
the place of their dreams. Some of the important considerations in
choosing where to retire are: Family and Friends; Finance; Lifestyle,
Geography and Climate; and Call of the Native Land.
In the
concluding two chapters, Dr. Bist discusses various planning tools to
help one reinvent retirement and make the process easier; and
recommends taking action by assessing key masala areas; designing a
strategy and then implementing it. For those who need extra help, she
suggests working with a retirement lifestyle coach who could help in
the process.
This engrossing book is a ‘must-read’ for all those
who are nearing retirement or who have to plan retirement for elders in
their family. It is a powerful guide and tool and bound to resonate
with all the seniors.
Both the Paperback and Kindle version of the book are available at Amazon.com. Jaipur
born Anita Bist is a retirement, life and natural health coach,
spiritual teacher, author, speaker and entrepreneur. She has a Ph.D. in
Natural Health, an MBA in Marketing and Certifications in Retirement
Coaching. Through her retirement coaching, she helps her clients plan
successful retirement lifestyles through her signature Masala for
Retirement breakthrough System. Please visit
www.masalaforretirement.com for more details.
Dr. Anita Bist
lives in the US with her husband, daughter and a pet rabbit. She enjoys
globetrotting, reading, music, yoga and meditation.
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