In line with my resolution from last year, I have completed the final part of my 30-year journey. On September 1, 2024, I officially concluded my time in my last employment and began to pursue my own path.
It was not an easy decision to make, given all the facts and reasons involved—both internal and external. For most people, quitting a stable government job after 17 years is unthinkable. They are not wrong. But I happen to be different. There are things I want to do with the time that remains, and I am running out of time.
The limits of mortality have shown me the finite nature of the time I have left to do the things I want to do. The pursuit of financial independence has always been in my mind since I first understood it. I have always seen it as the key to allowing me to follow the path I desire for my future. In other words, time—I want to free up my remaining time for myself. And I fear I may not have enough time left to accomplish everything I wish to do.
Now, three months into my so-called retirement, many expected me to relax and do little, given I have more time. But the truth is, not much has changed. The normalcy of my routine has shifted very little. I still go out during weekdays, working on various projects, and I still spend many nights working late. Piles of books, innovative ideas, inspirations, projects, and explorations keep appearing nonstop on my list, waiting for me to carry them out. There seems to be no end, and I often lament the lack of time to do it all. I constantly feel an urgency to complete everything, as though time is slipping away. Many might wonder why I’m not relaxing. But as usual, there’s no simple answer. To put it plainly, I am simply different from the conventional group of people. There are so many things I want to do before my life ends.
