Retiring at 34 was a strategic decision I made to counter the risk of an early demise. This choice was influenced by personal experiences with loss, starting from when I was a child. I lost my grandfather to cancer at age nine, which left a deep impact on me and my family. Then, at 13, the sudden death of a 15-year-old friend in a car accident further reinforced the fleeting nature of life.
My perspective on life’s fragility deepened with global events. I was in the Windows Of The World restaurant at the north tower of the Twin Towers shortly before they fell in 2001. Similarly, I had stayed at the Oberoi Hotel in Mumbai just a week before the 2008 terrorist attacks. These events, coupled with the economic turmoil of the global financial crisis, spurred me to reconsider how I spent my life. I chose not to spend my prime years in a job that no longer fulfilled me.
The recent lifting of the Public Health Emergency For COVID-19 has prompted me to reflect on the pandemic’s impact on my life and decisions. Like forest fires, crises are inevitable, and learning from them is crucial for better handling future emergencies.
During the early days of the pandemic lockdown in March 2020, I remember feeling trapped at home with my three-year-old son. The closed public playgrounds prompted us to improvise, but the longing for normalcy led us to a closed playground, which we entered despite the restrictions.
This action led to a confrontation with an onlooker and a park ranger, highlighting the tension between public health directives and personal freedoms. The pandemic forced parents like me to make challenging decisions about our children’s activities and health. We balanced risks and took precautions, making choices like avoiding packed grocery stores and planes, and opting for homeschooling.
Working with incomplete information during the pandemic was a constant challenge. Decisions had to be made amidst uncertainty, often based on personal judgments rather than clear directives. The pandemic significantly affected our family life, especially regarding our son’s preschool education and visiting family.
To adapt during this period, we made several decisions. We decided to have a second child and become full-time stay-at-home parents, bought a more suitable house for the lockdown lifestyle, and homeschooled our son, which brought its own set of learnings and benefits.
Physical fitness became a priority, so I focused on losing weight to reduce health risks associated with COVID-19. Financially, the pandemic created opportunities in various asset classes, which I capitalized on through informed risk-taking and diversifying income sources, including writing a bestselling book and updating our severance negotiation book.
However, there are regrets. I wish we had moved to Oahu to be closer to my parents, taken advantage of low travel rates, and made different investment choices, like owning a single-family vacation home. Additionally, I ponder on missed opportunities in speculative investments and stock sales.
The pandemic was a period of significant action and reflection for me. It underscored the importance of taking charge of your life and making informed decisions, even amidst uncertainty. As we move past the pandemic, these lessons will hopefully prepare us better for any future crises.
