Brighten Things Up With Retirement Jokes
Tuesday, May 18th, 2010Most people approach retirement with a gloomy face. They approach retirement as if it is a surrender to the hands of fate and the debilitation of the body. Therefore, it is very important to help the retiree understand that retirement is something to be welcomed because it is an inevitable stage in life. But how can one do that? Its simple: just poke fun at retirement. Retirement jokes, like the ones made in speeches are popular. However, speeches tend make people emotional to the point where everyone in the room is in a state of gloomy inevitability and sympathy. But one can raise the level of the atmosphere with retirement jokes (without insulting the retiree, of course).
Examples: In addition to talking about the great moments the speaker has shared with the retiree, he/she can add something that will lighten up the mood. One could give a tombstone slab, with the inscription To Be Filled In Later on it. If you’re a friend, you could also make a joke by calling the retiree granddad or grandfather whenever the retiree speaks to you, as in “OK, granddad”. This can also help lighten the mood. But don’t overdo it, of course.
Another gag that could help is a wig in an unusual color like pink, green or purple. A follow up gag to that joke could be that he might need a headpiece in the very near future. If he refuses it, say: Okay, then wear a paper bag instead when you do go bald. Always be prepared for when a joke fails. So keep those backup jokes ready! Believe it or not, some agencies write and sell personalized retirement speeches with witty jokes built in after knowing the personality and interests of the retiree. These companies usually add jokes about the retirees profession. If you can’t find enough retirement jokes, a visit to a bookshop could help a great deal.
There are joke books that cover a vast range of topics, only one of which is retirement. A little search on this or that will help inspire the reader if he/she isnt a natural comedian. These can also be great retirement gifts too, helping the retiree have a good laugh on one of those boring Monday afternoons. There are also a lot of websites on the net that provide a lot of jokes and free retirement e-books. The e-books that are available range from the 100 Best Things Said about Retirement to Retirement Wisdom You Wont Get from your Bank Manager.
Conclusion: You have a lot of leeway when telling jokes at a retirement party. If you know someone who is coming near to retirement, you can first send an email or two which has retirement quotations like retirement is when everyday is Saturday and retirement: goodbye tension, hello pension!. It is a nice gesture and creates the impression that you understand what the future retiree is going through.
Again, keep the retiree (future or not) relaxed as much as you can. Make him/her contemplate retirement with a smile and not with a sigh as much as you can. And when the retirement party does come, adopt the same light-hearted approach, telling jokes here and there and doing some gags like the ones mentioned above. Not only will the retiree feel less wary about retirement, he/she will focus more on the people who kept him happy on that bitter-sweet day, especially the person that gave him that strange pink wig.
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