The Colours of My Second Innings

Hello dear friends,
I hope this blog finds you in a cheerful and hopeful mood.

Today is a deeply special day for me. I am celebrating not just one, but two beautiful milestones—my 8th anniversary of retirement from the Bank, and the completion of my 100th painting.

Yes, it’s a day of dual happiness, and my heart feels full.

Retirement, for many, may bring uncertainty, questions, or even fears about relevance or routine. But for me, retirement became the greatest gift life could offer—the gift of time.

Time to explore my passions, time to rediscover myself, and time to simply be. What I once thought might be the end of an era, turned out to be the beginning of a much more soulful journey.

A New Canvas

Eight years ago, I stepped out of the structured corridors of banking, a career that served me well but never allowed me to explore the colours of creativity within me.

I never imagined that I would one day call myself a painter, writer, and storyteller. Life is indeed full of surprises if we allow ourselves the space to grow.

With each passing day of retirement, I found myself slowly picking up a brush, then a pen, and pouring out everything that had remained locked away in the depths of my being.

What started as a casual experiment soon turned into a passion—a ritual that gives me both purpose and peace.

Today, as I complete my 100th painting, I look back in awe. Each canvas holds a memory, an emotion, a silent conversation with my inner self.

These aren’t just strokes of colour—they are reflections of my heart and soul. They are my diary in visuals.

Painting: My Therapy and My Teacher

Art has a strange and powerful way of healing. I have realized over the years that painting is more than a hobby—it’s my therapy.

When emotions are overwhelming, I turn to the canvas. When silence surrounds me, I speak through colour. The brush becomes my friend, my confidant.

There have been days when words failed me, but a painting said it all. Each hue has carried my hopes, every stroke has eased my anxieties, and every finished piece has left me with a sense of achievement that no material success ever did.

I often say this now: My painting evaporates all my pain and fills me with a new light. It reminds me that even after retirement, life has meaning, and perhaps even more colour.

Retirement: A Rebirth, Not a Retreat

People often ask me, “How did you adjust after retirement?” I smile and say, “I didn’t adjust—I evolved.”
Retirement is not a retreat from life; it is a rebirth—a second innings where you’re free to bat with passion instead of pressure.

Before retirement, time always belonged to someone else—deadlines, meetings, responsibilities. Now, time belongs to me. I use it to nurture what brings me joy. And that, dear friends, is the real wealth of retirement.

Writing and painting have become my two pillars. Every morning I wake up excited—sometimes with an idea for a new blog, sometimes with an image I want to paint.

This dual engagement of heart and mind has given me mental clarity, emotional balance, and spiritual joy.

Lessons from My Journey

As I celebrate today, I want to share a few things I’ve learned on this colourful journey:

• Never let age define your passion. Creativity knows no expiry date.
• Start where you are. You don’t need to be perfect; you just need to begin.
• Routine brings peace. A little structure in retired life helps channel your energy.
• Express yourself. Whether it’s words or colours, your story matters.
• Stay connected. Share your work with friends and family. You’ll inspire more than you know.

Gratitude and Hope

I’m filled with gratitude—for the time I have, for the support of my loved ones, and for the inspiration that flows each day.

To all my fellow retirees and those soon to retire, I say: embrace this time as your most precious chapter. Explore, create, laugh, learn, and above all, live.

Today, as I look at my 100th painting drying beside me, I feel emotional. It is not just a piece of art—it is a symbol of transformation. From banker to blogger, from finance to fine arts, from deadlines to dreams—I have come a long way.

And yet, the journey continues. With every sunrise, a new painting awaits, a new story stirs inside me, and a new reason to smile emerges.

Here’s to the magic of retirement, and the beautiful, healing journey it can be.

Categories: infotainment

Tags: #Artist, #Blogging, #creativity, #Life, #my art, #MySecondInning, #Painting, #wellness, art, painting, writing