Early Retirement is the Means not the End. Looking back I always say that my first career was just the means to an end. It was to get me to retirement. But in no way am I saying that Early Retirement is then the End.

The happiness and freedom that financial independence now provides is all due to that first career. A career where at first I was very passionate about. But as time went on, responsibilities grew to all-consuming. People I cared about were laid off. there was a company merger, a change in the culture and negative treatment of employees. Promised benefits were then cut. Add it all up and I lost my passion and enthusiasm for it.

It was means to an end. The end of that career. I am very happy that I had taken control of my future so that I could have the option to retire early. Many there didn’t and are still there at my old career company. Most are not happy.

Early Retirement is the Means.

The means for the freedom to pursue a life of happiness. To leave behind my career–driven mindset past life. Where I took a path and stayed with it because it was what my brain said made the best financial sense. Even if I didn’t love it. Now I can live a new passion-driven mindset life. Where I can follow my heart and if my brain tries to get in the way I silence it by asking. If money wasn’t an issue, what would I really WANT to do? I am not talking about complete budget blowing issues. But in the areas of the opportunities I have passionately pursued, small spontaneous vacations, whether to stay in our current home near family, etc.

I remain financially disciplined but no longer worry about money.

What are the things early retirement and living with a passion-driven mindset allow someone to do?

First off retiring early doesn’t happen without financial independence. They are tied together and exchangeable. When I talk about having the freedom to spend your days doing what makes you happy, doing what you are passionate about, and doing what it is that you think is really important to you.

• You can pursue a new career or start a business you have dreamed to do, living the “retire early and often” lifestyle.
• You take money out of the equation when making lifestyle decisions.
• You can go back to school or start researching on your own to learn something new that you have always had an interest in but never had the time.
• You can engage deeper into your existing hobbies or pursue new ones that have always interested you.
• You can learn a new sport or practice much more a sport you are already playing so you can become better at it.
• You can travel to far off places and even spend enough time there to do volunteer work or engage in rewarding and fulfilling work.
• You can visit friends and family and stay connected to the people who matter most to you.
• You can learn a new language, or multiple languages.

In Conclusion

The list can have endless possibilities because it is unique to the person. At some point as we grow older our world shrinks smaller. People tend to stay closer to home as health and age take their toll and it’s harder to travel or do all the activities we did when we were young. I see a big difference in my now 56-year-old self when looking back at my 45-year-old self of the past. Passions and interest will change and we won’t be considered early retirees any longer but we can still be engaged in our passion-driven life that started with our early retirement. Early Retirement is the Means not the End. Leaving the planet is the End after a life well lived.

I would enjoy any comments or whether you have other thoughts about Early Retirement is the Means not the End.