Forum: Take ownership of your silver years

I refer to the article “Seeking purpose: What is a long life for?” (Sept 14).

I believe navigating the third and fourth ages is primarily the responsibility of the individual. The Government and society can only do so much. Just as a tertiary student’s single-minded purpose is the dogged pursuit of a degree, we are also responsible for how our own silver years pan out. Often the lack of purpose is stark.

This reminds me of what British writer Jon Ronson wrote in his recent book The Castle: the thought that if I’m not being productive, I’m letting myself and everyone else down.

A lack of purpose can stem from a typical Singaporean’s life of not engaging in pursuits other than academic study, work, child-rearing, parental care and so on. Thus, when all these accoutrements of life fall away with age, it seems there is nothing left – only boredom, with its attendant depression, loneliness and cognitive decline.

Screens are the low-hanging fruit which come to fill the void, worsening mental health and insomnia, and possibly even hastening the onset of dementia. We must plan for purpose in our later years by living full lives now.

Whether it is through nurturing relationships and making meaningful connections, contributing and volunteering, or indulging in our hobbies, these will stand us in good stead in time. As for myself, I hope to be able to continue writing to the ST Forum page well into my old age.

Colin Lim