Hi, this is Hiro.

I took early retirement at the age of 55 after 35 years of service, and I turned 62 this year. For about a year and a few months after leaving the company, I didn't work and enjoyed my freedom. Since then, I've been working part-time and living at my own pace.

This time, I'd like to talk about three things I've realized in my 60s after taking early retirement at 55: "A life lived comparing myself to others," "A life centered on money," and "A life where I've lost sight of myself."

First, "A life lived comparing myself to others."

When I was younger, I wanted to be better at my job than my peers, receive good evaluations, and get promoted. I think those feelings helped me grow. For 35 years as a company employee, I worked in a sense, constantly competing.

However, when you compare yourself to others, you start thinking things like, "That person earns more," or "They've been promoted more than me," and before you know it, you're not concerned with your own life, but rather with whether you're better than others.

Around the time I turned 50, I started to think, "Maybe it's okay to step away from the competition now." My early retirement at age 55 wasn't just about leaving my company; it was also a chance to break free from a life lived in comparison to others.

Next is a "money-centered life."

Of course, money is important. If you retire early, it's necessary to think about and prepare for your future life.

However, if you keep thinking, "I want to earn more," and "I want to save more," earning money itself can become the purpose of life.

After retiring, I considered starting my own business for a while. But I thought, "Do I really want to earn that much?" and ultimately chose to work part-time.

Now, I earn just enough money to live on, and work at a comfortable pace while having my own time. I feel that this suits me better.

And finally, there's a "life where I lost sight of myself."

I thought that if I quit my job, I would find what I wanted to do. But after living a free life for a while, I started to think, "What should I do now?"

That's when I realized that I like "making people happy" and "receiving thanks."

That's why, after retiring, I chose a part-time job in customer service rather than manufacturing. Even though the pay is low, I find joy in my work every day, talking to customers and saying and receiving "thank yous."

Now that I'm in my 60s, I sometimes wonder, "What was I doing with my life when I was a company employee?" But it's because I worked for 35 years that I am who I am today.

From now on, I want to live my life not comparing myself to others, nor chasing after money alone, but cherishing what I find enjoyable and receiving "thank yous" from others.