Recently, while reading an article titled "The Reality I Felt After Working in a Nursing Home for 10 Years," I felt a lump in my throat as I reached the last sentence.

This was because I realized that this isn't just someone else's story; it could someday be my parents' story, and ultimately, my own.

The first thing that struck me was the story of children who, after bringing their parents to a nursing home, gradually stop visiting as time goes by.

Of course, this doesn't mean everyone is like that. But I think that when you have work and kids to take care of, "I'll go next week" can quickly turn into "I'll go next month," and that cycle can repeat. What scared me the most while reading was not the thought of becoming that kind of child, but the realization that I could someday be the parent waiting for a visit.

There's another sentence that has lingered in my mind.

"Filial piety comes from the balance in your bank account rather than your heart."

When I think about reality, it doesn't seem completely wrong. Those with financial means can place their parents in better facilities, hire caregivers, and have the time to visit more often.

On the other hand, telling someone who is struggling to manage their own life to be filial might be too easy. The bitter truth is that there are realities that cannot be solved with love alone.

The idea that even the kindest children start to feel exhausted after years of caregiving weighed heavily on my heart.

People are not machines. It's not that they don't love their parents, but in the endless cycle of caregiving, both body and mind can break down.

So, I began to think that preparing for retirement is not just about saving money, but about preparing for the whole family.

The idea that families who distribute their assets early tend to lose contact quickly was particularly shocking. While it can't be said that this is true for every family, the mere existence of such cases is disheartening. If parents think they have shared their love, but children feel they have already done their part, it would be one of the most empty feelings.

The part that hurt the most was the idea that the elderly who only brag about their children are actually lonelier. At first, I didn't understand it.

But upon reflection, I thought that constantly talking about their children might be a way to express how much they miss and long for them.

Bragging might be the last bit of pride that hides loneliness.

And the final sentence.

The idea that in the end, the one who stays by your side is not your child, but an old radio, lingered in my mind for a while.

It felt like the radio wasn't special, but rather that it symbolized the absence of someone to be with during that time. In reality, elderly people who have lost their strength often find smartphones too difficult to use. Aging is truly painful.

Living busy in Dallas, I suddenly thought of my parents. I also wondered what my retirement would look like someday.

When I was younger, retirement felt like a distant future, but as I age, I realize that future is closer than I thought.

The conclusion I reached after reading this article was simple. It's not about not relying on children or saying that the world is cold.

It's just that maintaining health while you're healthy, preparing for retirement while you can work, and achieving financial independence is ultimately a way to lessen the burden on both myself and my children.

The love for parents and reality are not always the same. So, I felt that I need to manage my health, prepare retirement funds, and maintain relationships with those around me before it's too late.

I hope that someday what stays by my side at the end is not an old radio, but good memories and a life without regrets.