Gratitude while FIRE'd

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Another year has come and gone. Last November while watching the sumo tournament, Asanoyama said something that caught my attention. He's been gone from the very top division for sometime and I was happy to see him back. He did well and when he was interviewed after getting a winning record, he said: A lot has happened a long the way, the tournament isn't over yet. So I want to say focused, keep my gratitude in mind and continue giving my best. That is a good attitude to cultivate - an attitude of gratitude.  Last Monday, I stopped at a counter to do a pickup and I realized that people get up each day to show up to work. Later during the week, I stopped by the store to look for replacement bulbs and on my way back to the garage, I saw a worker helping a customer with loading their car and what I felt was gratitude to God. God has been good to me.  I think that sometimes, it's easy to forget the good we have but I think it is important to focus on the good we have, on the bl...
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Happy New Year to the FI/RE'd life.

 The last month of 2024 was busy. I wanted to finish up work around the house. I wanted to get other things done. And I had events to attend. I was at a wedding last month when someone asked where I worked. I simply said I didn't. They thought I was lying. I simply turned it around to ask them where they worked and tried to ask more questions about what they did but the couple came in. 

That said, I thought I would've possibly FIRE'd this year or next year. Instead, I felt the call to leave in the Fall of 2023. I am grateful to God for getting me through the year. To be honest, leaving seems scary. Even if the numbers look like they would work, it's not easy to leave. For me, I was afraid I wouldn't have income coming in. I was wrong. I needed to trust God because he more than sustained me throughout the year. It took me about 6 months to leave because I wanted to be sure in the beginning and then I got greedy and wanted to use up benefits. I wouldn't advice that. Just get out and leave things behind. 

While I wasn't worried in the beginning, I had some things happen that me wonder how I'm going to get through. I'm talking of big expenses I had not anticipated. But thanks be to God for seeing me through. I'm glad I left. I think if the major issue that occurred shortly after I left had happened prior, I may have stayed behind in the name of making money to pay for it but it got taken care of in grand style. I think most of us are used to working and are so comfortable in it that we shudder at the thought of doing something other than what we've been doing. 

That said, if you are thinking of getting FI/RE'd this year, go ahead and do it. Whatever you fear you've not planned for, let it come and you will find that you have survived when it's long gone. It wasn't an easy year but it was a good year. Even with the sad news I got and the subsequent costs associated with it, I'm grateful to God for seeing me through. Life is meant to be lived. My goal is to do my best. 

I think if I had relied on what ifs and maybes, I would've still been working in a place that was quite toxic in its own way. So, my encouragement is dare. Dare to take that plunge and FI/RE. Dare to live that life that you want to live. If you come across this blog and are on a F.I.R.E journey, when do you hope to retire? Are you there and wondering if you should? What are your aspirations for the new year. And if you don't have any planned out now, the year is still young. I'm trying to work mine out myself. 

To all my fellow nurses and those hoping to FI/RE, Happy New Year!

Here's a verse to keep in mind as you ponder on your decision making regarding FIRE and life:

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3: 5 - 6 (NIV)

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