July 26, 2024 was one of the best days of my life.
I was let go from my job that day.
It wasn’t anything I loved nor hated—just a role that I tolerated enough to make a living off of.
My investment portfolio had finally begun yielding passive income that exceeded my expenses, thereby marking my FIRE (Financial Independence/Retire Early) achievement. I ran the numbers and expressed to my fiancĂ© that I’d intended to either switch to part-time or stop working altogether by the end of 2024. At that time, I was only five months away from crossing that bridge. Anyone in the FIRE community knows the same nervous feeling all too well of pulling the trigger regardless of what the numbers tell you.
I’ll never forget how I felt in the last conversation I had with my boss:
I couldn’t believe my luck when he told me that I was getting laid off, effective immediately. I instantly felt lighter as though an immense burden was lifted off my shoulders. It was a Friday and I remember feeling elated at the thought of never having the Monday blues again. I still look back fondly on that interaction; it felt so easy to be courteous and kind (I offered his equipment back of my own volition since I worked a hybrid schedule). It was simply one of my proudest moments: I had reached FIRE and gotten fired.
I was grateful that someone else’s decision-making had cemented my early retirement. I wished my coworkers a Happy Friday, and have not seen any of them since. The one I was closest to worked from home that day, so I even gave her a call on the drive home because I wanted her to hear the news from me first.
It wouldn’t come as a surprise to know that I don’t miss that office nor my colleagues. I don’t miss being asked to solve other people’s problems, meeting deadlines, or having to take on certain assignments because “I’m reliable.”
(PSA: always advocate for yourself and ensure you are fairly compensated for your dependability.)
I had always hated working—or so I thought. Frankly, I despise working for someone else and actually find joy in getting to figure things out for myself (such as starting a blog with my own domain). I came to realize that following the leader is a kid’s game that accompanies you throughout adulthood. From a young age, we are taught to obey instructions in school and then eventually at a day job—in order to survive. The system in place was created to produce working bees, and you know what?
I never was a fan of being a busy bee.
For the duration of my working years, I prioritized investing about 80% of my annual salary so that it can generate passive income to fund my lifestyle. I had to develop discipline and learn to delay gratification in order to achieve my financial goal. I couldn’t care less about what people thought of the car I drove, clothes I wore, or gadgets I used. I never faltered from building the life I wanted because I was the only person responsible for me.
Every financial sacrifice I made to secure my freedom from the rat race was worth it.
If you are reading this, I believe you can also have your own upward mobility and the opportunity to thrive in life. The first and most important thing you need to have is the desire to bring it to fruition.
That’s just the way it is.
I’ve always hated this line.
You don’t have to accept something just because it’s the way it’s always been or the only way you’ve known.
I personally don’t find it normal to have my sleep disrupted by an alarm clock. Getting to wake up whenever I want to is one of my favorite things about retirement. Imagine having gone your whole life waking up at designated times for school and work, but it’s now a forever weekend. My circadian rhythm is in the best alignment it’s ever been, and I’m cherishing this before we grow our family and a kid comes into the picture.
I literally sometimes forget what day of the week it is.
Because every day is Saturday.
This past year allowed me to spend 51 days away from home. I will admit that having a pet drastically affects my enthusiasm for travel. Truthfully, it hasn’t gotten easier having to leave Kenzo behind for long durations.
Nevertheless, I was lucky enough to explore parts of the world on five different continents. It was a wonderful year to say the least, and I wouldn’t have gotten to travel freely as much as I did if I was still working an office job. I feel fortunate and appreciate my new lifestyle, and don’t ever think to take it for granted.
Time = money = energy.
Consider giving that some serious thought, and you’ll find that they are all one and the same: your time and energy are often exchanged as services for money; money can be used to conserve your time and energy.
My advice to anyone seeking early retirement is:
Ensure you aren’t only retiring from something by preparing yourself with something to retire to.
Money is a necessity for FIRE, but finding value and purpose in your life outside of work is just as important, if not more.
They say time is money and thus, I can say with utmost confidence that time is the best possession I’ve ever had.
Cheers!
