You spend your childhood studying hard so that you can get a job that will allow you to get everything that you want, and then you spend your adult life looking forward to the day you will retire from the rigmarole of working. The simple pleasures of being able to sleep late and not worry about getting somewhere on time, not worrying about deadlines, or your boss screaming down the phone; all of these are things that come to you along with retirement. But you still look back at your days of work with fondness. If someone you know and care for is nearing their date of retirement, then you may be planning a retirement party for them. At the party, one thing that you can give them is a scrapbook with all the memories of their professional life. We give you some ideas that will make the gesture truly memorable.
Ideas for Retirement Scrapbooks
As with any scrapbooking project, there are some basic things that you will need to keep in mind while making a retirement scrapbook. Remember that this book is a compilation of memories that indicate the end of a lifetime of work. While it is important to celebrate the memories of things that have happened, it is also important that you celebrate those things that the person is looking forward to. Scrapbook ideas will differ depending on your relationship with the person.
| For Your Teacher |
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| While designing a scrapbook for your teacher who is about to retire, there are many design ideas that you can use. One thing that you can do is to allow the look of the scrapbook to be a reflection of the subject she/he used to teach. Therefore, if your teacher was a chemistry teacher, then the borders of the scrapbook could feature test tubes, beakers, etc. The scrapbook can have photos of the teacher over the years with different batches that have passed out of the school. You can contact former students and ask them to send out personal messages on how he or she has been inspired by your teacher. You can also have messages from present students and colleagues at the school. |
| For Your Colleague |
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| If the scrapbook is being made for a colleague who is retiring, then the focus will be more on professional achievements but the design of the scrapbook can reflect the interests of the person. If your colleague is a keen reader, then allow the scrapbook to mimic the theme of his favorite book. If bowling is more up his alley, then allow this to be the dominant decorative feature. You can also include funny quotes about retirement and photos from various office events. Have messages from former and present bosses and colleagues. Another cool idea would be to create a hall of fame record for all their professional achievements. |
| For Your Parent |
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| Sometimes retirement can be a horrible time for parents. With their kids already out of the house and their professional life coming to an end, it can often be the cause of depression. A scrapbook can be a great way to celebrate their retirement. Create a timeline in the scrapbook of how your life is intertwined with theirs and how their personal achievements reflected in your happiness. Have photos from different office trips that you may have made with your parent or just photos of your parent with their colleague. Also include messages from friends and family members who have been present through the journey. |
| For Yourself |
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| So you are retiring and you want to create something special for yourself? Well, who would not love the idea. If you are creating a retirement scrapbook for yourself, then there is a lot that you can do. Try to make a book of memories of whatever catches your eye. Do you want to recollect your days at work and do you want to go back to the memories you have of your entire life? You can ask your friends, colleagues, and family members to write down what they think about you. Add photos and quotes to the scrapbook. |
If you are having a retirement party, then there are other things that can also be included in the scrapbook, like a copy of the guest list with the signatures of all the guests on it, photos of the decorations of the party, notes of congratulations, etc. These are just some of the ideas that you can use. Put your creativity to use and you will find that there is no dearth of ideas.
