What do you do when the applause fades, the work emails stop, and silence sets in?

After 44 years of a vibrant, purpose-driven career, M.N. Ashraf stepped into retirement with dreams of peace—but quickly found himself facing a deep and unexpected void. What followed was a journey through sleepless nights, emotional uncertainty, and a profound questioning of identity, worth, and direction.

This book was born from that journey.

A Hand Book on Retirement is more than just advice—it's a deeply personal exploration of what it truly means to retire. With warmth, wisdom, and raw honesty, Ashraf speaks directly to those who are approaching, experiencing, or grappling with the aftermath of retirement. He gently guides you through the emotional fog that often comes with this life shift, while also offering practical strategies to help you rebuild purpose, structure, and joy.

Ever wondered why retirement feels more unsettling than relaxing?
Are you silently battling boredom, loneliness, or a loss of identity?
Do you want to prepare—not just financially, but emotionally and spiritually—for this phase of life?

This book holds the answers. And perhaps, even more importantly, it holds the questions you didn’t realize you needed to ask.

Inside, you’ll find:

Real stories, not theories
Insights from global cultures and spiritual traditions
A blend of practical planning and soulful reflection
Tools to rebuild confidence, connection, and inner peace
Honest talk about aging, health, finances, family, and legacy

Whether you're 55 or 75, retired or about to be, Sunset to Sunrise is your companion through this powerful chapter of life. It doesn't promise a perfect retirement—it promises an authentic, meaningful, and beautifully human one.

Your story isn’t ending. A new one is just beginning. Are you ready to write it?

Reflections from the Author ...

"Retirement is not the fading of life’s light—it is the golden hour when we finally slow down to enjoy what truly matters: our faith, our family, our health, our time, and above all, the joy of giving back.

In these precious years, we are gifted with a new role—not just as retirees, but as mentors, storytellers, grandparents, and torchbearers of values. Our wisdom becomes a guide, our silence a comfort, our presence a gift.

To my fellow retirees: you may no longer wear a uniform or clock into an office, but you now wear something far more meaningful—the legacy of your life. Wear it with pride, live it with grace.

To our beloved grandchildren and younger generations: remember, the retired ones around you are not simply resting—they are rooted. In their company lie the answers to many of life’s questions. Sit with them, listen, laugh, learn, and carry forward their light.

And to the readers of this book, I say with love and sincerity:

The sun has set on your working years, but a new sunrise awaits—filled with purpose, peace, and the power to inspire those who come after you.

May your retirement be not an ending, but a beautiful beginning."

With humble gratitude,
M.N. Ashraf