Articles Lifestyle Mr Old Man When the Contract Ends, Life Continues By Mr Old Man Posted on 5 days ago 7 min read 0 0 85 Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Google+ Share on Reddit Share on Pinterest Share on Linkedin Share on Tumblr A Quiet Exchange Between Two Bankers at the Edge of Retirement Intro As the years add up, professional conversations slowly change their shape. They are no longer about promotions, systems, or new products, but about timing, impermanence, and what remains when a long career reaches its natural pause. A few days ago, Mr. Old Man received a thoughtful email from Thomas — a lawyer approaching retirement after decades in international banking. His note was not a complaint, nor a farewell speech, but a meditation on work, age, and the unseen forces that truly sustain expertise. For reasons of confidentiality, bank names have been abbreviated or omitted. What follows is the full exchange. _______ Mail from Thomas Dear Duc, Through my practice of Buddhist mindfulness — which to me simply means thinking while living — I now see more and think more deeply than before. For many years, making a living meant continuing my work at the bank, as long as circumstances allowed. When HR informed me that my contract would not be renewed at the end of this year, my first thought was that I could simply move to another bank and continue doing the same work. I then realized that age, rather than expertise, had become the real constraint. What surprised me most was learning that there would be no replacement. This led me to wonder whether the bank would eventually scale down its international bank guarantee services — a function that is fundamental to international trade. That said, I understand that I cannot control people or institutions. People will do what they wish, and the world will move in its own direction. In my daily work, I often tell junior staff that there is an answer to every question in international bank guarantee operations. Likewise, I believe there is an answer to whatever the future brings. The teachings of Buddhism, the reflections of Marcus Aurelius, and my experience in international banking have prepared me well for change — including this one. When HR informed me of the non-renewal, I accepted it calmly. I thanked them for the many years of employment and emphasized that the most important task ahead is training younger staff. English proficiency, technical expertise, and experience in international transactions can all be taught. What is far harder to replace is genuine care for people. Those professional skills are like the hardware and software of a high-level computer. Love for colleagues is the electricity that brings everything to life. Without it, nothing truly works. Skills can be replaced with effort. That final power source cannot. Best regards, Thomas _________ Mr. Old Man’s Response Dear Thomas, Let me share a little from my own experience. When I retired from the bank, I genuinely believed I would continue to support them whenever my trade finance experience was needed. At the time, they appreciated my dedication and even said they would refer to my opinion whenever issues arose. In reality, over the five years since I left, I returned only once — on the occasion of the branch’s 50th anniversary — to give a short speech about its history, much of which the younger generation no longer knew. Other than that, life simply went on. They found their own way forward, chose their own successors, and never troubled me with their problems — and I was perfectly fine with that. At this stage of life, I truly believe it is not necessary to worry too much about whether the bank renews your contract or whether someone else is hired. That is ultimately the bank’s business, not yours. What matters most now is your family — especially your wife, who has spent her life supporting you and standing quietly behind your long working years. This is the time to give something back. Take her traveling, see the world together, and enjoy life as tourists rather than professionals always on duty. I know you are a workaholic — I was too. But once you step away, you will discover a different kind of happiness in slowing down and spending time with those who truly matter. I believe you will enjoy that difference more than you expect. Best wishes, Nguyen Huu Duc P.S. What a nice bookshelf. I don’t have one like yours.