You owe it to all of us to get on with what you’re good at.    W. H. Auden

This quote was a page-stopper for me.

It comes at a time when I am weighing options in my life.

There is what I want to do.  Quit my job and pursue other interests.

I tell myself at least once a day that I should quit and do something else.

Then there is what I feel I should do.  Stay at the job and try to contain work to a reasonable amount of time in my day and space in my brain.  So far, not happening.

I need to learn some Jedi mind tricks.

What I am good at?  Writing, communicating, helping others, finding solutions, taking care of loved ones.  Even if I am not first-rate at anything, there are many things I enjoy doing such as writing (I always come back to that), painting, playing the piano, learning computer science.

All take time and a full-time job doesn’t allow for much free time.

Everybody’s doing it

I have many friends who are retired.  I am just tired.

I want to step out in faith that the future will be OK, that I have saved enough, that I will not regret my decision.

My friend’s younger sister (40ish) was killed suddenly in a car accident a few weeks ago. A terrible reminder of the uncertainty of our time on earth.

My friend who retired in December hates it.  Other friends love it.

A man and his wife recently retired and downsized.  As he put it, “We want to make tnese decisions while we are still able rather than have someone else make them for us.”

If I look hard and long enough,  I will find arguments pro and con for quitting my job.

Every day brings me closer to starting a new life.

The question is will I let fate decide (illness, accident, industry changes) or will I be the captain of my ship?

My heart longs to travel down peaceful, quiet roads.

Your thoughts?