My esteemed editor requested something on the subject of retirement. I've racked my feeble brain trying to oblige. But the notion of retiring from work doesn't mean anything to me - because I'm an actor. As long as my memory holds out, there are plenty of good roles for ageing thespians.
Even if I can't remember my lines, there's always radio, where I can blather on for hours about nothing. That's what most announcers seem to do.
But retiring as something we could aspire to be, rather than do, is something I can relate to.
The current prerequisite for gaining fame and fortune seems to be an ability to be "out there", which usually means loud , obnoxious and deliberately {or not} stupid.
If more of us practised being retiring, not shy, but rather reserved and modest, the world would be a much nicer place to live in.
Confucius said "He who speaks without modesty will find it difficult to make his words good."
Thinking before we bleat, being a bit more backward in coming forward with our opinions, and less convinced that what we're eating/feeling/doing every minute of every day is endlessly fascinating, a la tweeting and Facebook, might lead to a gentler, kinder society.
If we shut up about ourselves for just a portion of every day, we might find that there are other things to focus on. Someone might need our help, or have something to teach us. Something fascinating might be going on right under our noses that we could listen to or observe.
There's a lot to be said for the quiet art of contemplation. Being "on" all the time is exhausting, and the world we live in is incredibly noisy. It's not easy to find peace.
And isn't peace what retirement is supposed to offer? How lovely if we could find peace in our everyday lives, before we retire. I love the line from Philippians in the Bible, which describes the peace that passes all understanding. It always seemed like a good thing to strive for.
With the overwhelming amount of technology that our kids use every day, I worry that their every waking moment is filled with babble of one kind or another - sometimes several kinds at once. And most of the commentators and role models they're accessing could hardly be described as retiring, reserved or modest.
So they grow up thinking that self-importance is all. If you're surrounded by one version of the world, that's your reality.
It's not a bad thing to withdraw from the world every now and again. Call it "me" time, or just call it sensible, retirement from the stresses of normal life for a little while can rejuvenate and refresh the most jaded psyche.
Meditation is one way. But just switching off and being alone with your thoughts is enough. In fact, I think I might go and do it right now.
So while I won't be retiring, I will try to be more retiring from now on.