Purpose

I'm at an age when many of my contempories are retiring, either from work or life. We've been "in business" for almost 28 years and so many of the faceless people I interact with over the 'phone are now choosing to retire or being forced to as their employer doesn't wany anyone over 62 or so on the books.
Attitudes differ. One lady, 64 years of age, is so excited at the prospect of staying at home after so many years in her job that she loves."I'm going to spend a month cleaning and fixing up my home (sheesh, it would take me much more than a month) and then she has a new project lined up.
The other, a gentleman, about 63 I believe, knows that next year he'll be "asked" to leave the job he's had for almost 30 years. He has no plans, no idea of the future and is already feeling depressed.
You have to have a purpose in life else why wake up in the morning. For some it's the freedom to travel, cook, learn a new craft, revamp the house, whatever but it's the very act of planning for the future, looking forward to something new that keeps us on an even keel.
I would chat to a fun old guy, he was about 70, always refered to Rowland as The Captain, his bosses felt they wanted to project a younger image so told him to leave. I spoke to him a few months later and it was as if his body had been taken over by misery, looking for company.
"What do you do with your days?" I asked
"Nothing" was the sad reply, "my wife leaves for work, I go to buy the newspaper and that's it!" So sad. Happily after a year or so he has a new lease on life, a purpose, whatever it may be.
What troubles me is that so many young school leavers seem to be the same. No idea what to do with their lives, no argument there, after all how can you know if you haven't tested the waters? but, no desire to find out. Like my neighbours son who so enjoyed his gap year doing absolutely nothing that he's decided to take another, a sort of  course in "layabout".
We had the TV on in the background yesterday afternoon while we worked, sorry if I'm about to offend anyone but after listening to half an hour of American Idol or something I felt sorry for the folk who have no purpose in life other than to watch "reality" TV. Really? There are great movies to be watched, travel programmes, cooking, animal life, history, the list goes on but you must be sad if your only purpose is to watch a few fat brides dis. their friends.
Please take each day as a gift and enjoy choosing how to spend it purposefully.