Global Q&A: ‘What do you enjoy most about being a senior?’

Pansy Lim, Toronto, Canada. The Epoch Times

Overall seniors feel accomplished and more content with life, enjoying leisure activities and time spent with their grandchildren. This is what Epoch Times reporters from Peru to India discovered when they asked locals:

Lima, Peru Alejandro Enríquez, 68, Architect I enjoy my work and seeing my six children who have followed their destiny and fulfilled their goals. To see my 13 grandchildren—I feel like their oldest dad; I don’t feel like a grandpa. I’m not a burden because I still work in my profession, and I’m always aware of them. ... Currently in my profession I worry about the housing problem in the periphery. I write about housing opportunities. For 20 years I have been a social activist and a professor at several universities. Now, I’m passing on my experience and knowledge.

Dundalk, Co. Louth, Ireland (traveling Australia) Turlough O'Brien, 67, Retired Civil Engineer/College Lecturer I have to be a senior sometime, and I suppose what I enjoy most about being a senior right now is that I’m healthy. Outside of that I can’t really think there’s a great deal more to be said. I do find a lot of things to do, but I’m not tied to doing them so I have some choice. I love to travel as well, of course, but then we would have traveled before I was a senior. We drove home from Saudi Arabia with three children in 1981 so I wouldn’t mind doing that again.

Lund, Sweden Per Lundgren, 85, Retired The things I enjoy most in my life right now, I and my wife, is the dance association that we’ve belonged to for so many years and that we still enjoy so much. The reason is that we’ve met many of our best friends in this way, and they also arrange a lot of trips, exhibitions, and other interesting activities.

New York, USA Joanie Watkins, 75; Retired I’m more chilled out. The things that used to bother me, don’t anymore. I don’t care about what other people think. I could have a younger body though!

Bangalore, India Bhojaraj Tiwari, 78, Retired Honestly, there are no reasons to be happy as a senior, especially after having worked so hard and not receiving any pension or support from my son’s family. I enjoy my independence as a senior; the experience I have gathered all through my life has made me a much more knowledgeable person. I also find immense happiness in talking to my daughter who now lives in Qatar.

Twin Waters, Australia Marion Killingbeck, 74, Retired Management Rights Being able to please myself about, whatever, and not having to clock on and clock off work. I’m on my own now. I’m thinking of moving down to Nelson Bay because I have family there, but that’s all in the future.

Toronto, Canada Pansy Lim, 77, Retired I appreciate everything I have. I really appreciate life. I love to be with family and friends. I love going on cruises with friends because it’s nice to see the sea and the sky—you see that God’s creation is so beautiful. It’s really amazing. I also enjoy playing drums at a senior fellowship center every week.     Look for the Global Q&A column every week. Epoch Times correspondents interview people around the world to learn about their lives and perspectives on local and global realities. Next week’s global question: “Have you spent much time as a tourist in your own country?” The Epoch Times publishes in 35 countries and in 21 languages. Subscribe to our e-newsletter.