[readthenotes1]

I retired early, and thus I've had some time to think about why I have been able to do so with no discernible purpose and yet still enjoy my days.

Where I am now is the realization that I aspire to base my self-esteem on how I treat others and not how they treat me. The vanity, rivalry, and search for power that feels inherent in the work world has no place in my world.

I would much rather have the time to spend an hour with my elderly neighbor who is stuck in the hospital than to have the income that would allow me to fly to Tokyo for a Taylor Swift concert, or even just eat at a chic restaurant or drive a new car.