Old Age — The Unavoidable Reality

Old age is an obvious but undeniable truth. No one can escape from this savage reality. Decades-long hard work and struggle, sacrifice, ups and downs, kindness, sometimes bursts into tears and anger, relentless anxiety, and maybe a mixture of happiness and love—whatever it is, mental and physical status takes a toll with slow decay and exhaustion in the course of time.

At a certain point in life, realisation sets in — if you don’t prioritise yourself, no one will.
People spend years, sometimes even their whole lives, for others, believing their sacrifice will be remembered, their kindness will get validated and reciprocated, but old age often reveals difficult truths. People move on with their own lives, and no one has time to care about your life and years-long sacrifice.

Now it’s time to look back, reflect, and fine-tune for the remaining few years, months, or maybe days.

Powerful Tips to Stay Steadfast and Righteous with Purpose and Happiness

1. Take control of self-respect. Look after your well-being and the body that has endured years of sacrifice and hard work. Nurture the inner self quietly. This is called regaining control of oneself—it is not selfishness. It means making bold moves to set boundaries, stop over-giving, and value your limited time. Because in old age, every second counts.

2. Remain silent over chaos. Silence is strength; choose peace over arguments and noise.

3. Don’t pursue validation. Stop seeking respect or companionship as a return for your lifelong sacrifices.

4. Let go of regrets. Dwelling on past regrets and conflicts or holding on to resentment drains your energy—let it go and move forward.

5. Protect your lifelong savings. Invest wisely for your own happiness and satisfaction. It’s your money and your savings. Don’t give away your last property or assets to anyone, even close ones. This makes you self-dependent, confident, and self-sufficient.

6. Surround yourself with quality friends. Choose meaningful friendships that bring joy and laughter.

7. Nourish your body and mind. Prioritising physical and mental well-being means living your remaining life with sound health, dignity, and a sense of freedom, peace, and tranquillity.

8. Limit social media. Avoid getting trapped in the illusion of fake happiness and comparisons.

9. Stay active after retirement. Engage in part-time work you enjoy, start new hobbies, exercise, embrace nature, and follow spiritual rituals to nourish mental health and prepare for the next life. Remember, the greatest responsibility is to belong to yourself. There is no reward for sacrificing your happiness excessively for others.

Rather than exhausting yourself until your last breath, wake up with new dreams. Locate your own point of happiness—not in selfishness, but in inner peace and tranquillity for yourself, ultimately devoted to Almighty Allah (SWT), who recognises your true value and grants eternal acceptance and blessed life.

Happiness is not always given; it is often taken. The sooner you realise this, the more control you gain over your self-respect, peace, and freedom for the rest of your life.

Purpose of Life and Happiness
By Fuad Ahmed

The Interconnection Between Purpose and Happiness

Purpose and happiness are deeply integrated and interrelated in the cycle and meaning of life. The question arises: What keeps us healthier and happier in life? What is our life goal and energy that make life purposeful and fulfilling?

Today, the following four categories of life happiness can define our purpose in life:

1. The Struggle for Survival
   Two-thirds of the world’s population live with starvation and food insecurity. Their main purpose in life is to find food to fill their stomachs and to survive before they can thrive for higher purposes. They are the most disadvantaged, oppressed, and forgotten populations.

2. Worldly Pursuit of Success and Wealth
   Many navigate life with worldly purposes — making money, enjoying life, and then dying. This category mainly includes the privileged world population.
   A millennium survey of young adults asked, “What is your main goal in life?” Over 80% said they wanted to be rich, and more than 50% said they wanted to be famous. This shows that their lives lean heavily towards worldly achievements and financial success, although this doesn’t reflect the complete picture of happiness.

3. Balancing Worldly and Spiritual Life
   This group represents the average middle-class population who strive to balance worldly success with spiritual growth. They often find themselves stuck at a crossroads—trying to integrate spirituality into a materialistic life. With wisdom and experience over time, life takes on new shapes physically, mentally, and spiritually, offering different flavours and challenges. However, most people become intellectually bankrupt in finding the fine balance between worldly and holistic living.

4. Spiritual and Holistic Life Purpose
   This group completely devotes themselves to Almighty Allah (SWT) and the eternal life to come. They live with minimal worldly affairs, focusing on spiritual contentment and preparing for the afterlife.
   Our beloved Prophet Muhammad (SAW) exemplified this ultimate life purpose—devoted entirely to the will of Allah (SWT).

Wisdom from the Lives of Prophets

The most interesting fact we learn from our beloved Prophet (SAW) and other Prophets is that their lives were full of sorrow, distress, enormous pain, tribulations, and poverty. What was the purpose and wisdom behind these sufferings?

Most Prophets were shepherds or cattle grazers during their youth and adulthood. The wisdom behind this humble profession was to find tranquillity in the soul, observe the vastness of the universe, and connect deeply with the Creator beyond the seven heavens. It helped them realise the true meaning and purpose of life through inner peace and reflection.

Scientific Research on Happiness

A 75-year Harvard University study revealed that good relationships make us happier and healthier.
People who are socially connected with family, friends, and communities live longer, healthier, and more content lives than those who are isolated. It is not about how many friends one has, nor the duration of relationships—it is the quality of close relationships that matters most.

A recent study found that the world’s happiest country is Finland.
According to Jennifer De Paola, a happiness researcher at the University of Helsinki, Finland’s happiness stems from a close connection to nature and a healthy work-life balance.

“Finnish society is permeated by a sense of trust, freedom, and a high level of autonomy,” she said.
Finns’ strong welfare system, trust in state authorities, low levels of corruption, and free healthcare and education are key contributors to their well-being.

The Ultimate Question

There is always room for trial and error in adjusting our level of happiness, but one question continues to echo in our minds:

“Are we really happy?”