Cultural expectations surrounding the elderly are being challenged today, and with good reason!
While it was the norm to slow down and retreat into a quieter life post-retirement, more men and women are finding purpose and joy in doing the opposite.
WisdomCircle honours such men and women by shining light on their journey through an inspiring series called “Wisdom Stories”. These people have successfully smashed stereotypes, and their stories remind us that life should be lived to the fullest, no matter what age or stage.
“I’m not throwing away my shot.
I remember sitting in a palatial setting, next to someone of royalty. From the outside, it looked like success; status, proximity, recognition. We were seated side by side, almost as if we belonged in the same world. For a moment, I thought to myself ‘this is quite an achievement.’
But almost immediately, another thought followed. There was no real connection. We were physically close, but not truly together. No conversation of meaning, no sense of understanding, no human exchange that stayed. In that moment, I realised something that would stay with me for a long time.
An observer would have said I was successful. But in the one thing that mattered to me, I was not. I wasn’t looking for status; I was looking for connection. And in that sense, while status-wise I was successful, connection-wise, I was a failure.
That moment started a deeper question for me, if this is not what I want, then what does a meaningful life look like? And more importantly, who do I want to become?
As I reflected on that, I began to see a pattern across my life.
For a large part of my career, I was doing what I was supposed to do, taking on responsibility, solving problems, delivering outcomes. The work had scale, visibility, and impact in the way the world measures it. But internally, something was missing. I was effective… but I wasn’t fulfilled.
Over time, I also began to understand the importance of being grounded – physically and emotionally. For years, I focused on outcomes without fully understanding the cost at which those outcomes came. I could achieve things, but at a cost. And I didn’t like that. So, I started paying attention, to my energy, my emotions, my presence. Because without that foundation, everything else begins to lose meaning.
As my career evolved, I found myself in environments where success was defined narrowly, largely in financial terms. It started to feel very “crass commercial.” I’m not against money. Financial stability matters. But making money, by itself, has never been enough to drive me. What I kept coming back to, was a simple question, does this create real impact for people? And often, the answer was unclear.
When I reflect on what has truly stayed with me, it is not the large, visible successes. It is the smaller, human moments, when someone feels heard, seen, or understood. When I see people happy, that makes me happy. That became my compass.
Today, my life looks very different. I spend time as a Grab driver, using it as an opportunity to connect with people, without titles or expectations. It allows me to listen, to understand, and to engage in a way that is real. I also work one-on-one with people, helping them find their purpose and live it out meaningfully.
Interestingly, this phase of life is, in many ways, the least impressive from a status perspective. But it has been the most fulfilling. I now see this as my second mountain, not one defined by achievement, but by purpose and connection.
My focus is simple: to encourage people to find what truly matters to them, and to live in alignment with that. Because in the end, success without connection feels empty. But even a small life, lived with meaning and impact, is a life well lived. And that’s what matters.
I’m not throwing away my shot. Every day is my shot to live towards the person I want to be. What about you?”
Interviewed by Nehal Naik for WisdomCircle
Explore more inspiring journeys—read more Wisdom Stories here.
