Like many of us (both on these forums and around the country, I suspect), I am burnt out. I was running on empty before COVID and then last year was brutal. I am a slave to the golden handcuffs though. I have reached very lean FIRE but wanted to try to keep going for 2 more years to pad the stash.
Well, I just couldn't do it anymore. Over the past few weeks I had the wonderful realization that my happiness and mental well being is more important than the paychecks I am walking away from. As a member of the MMM community since 2013 I have known this in my heart but I couldn't act on it. Again, golden handcuffs (they sound wonderful but in reality are a terrible thing).
So, I gave my notice yesterday. I have absolutely nothing lined up. I am not ready for lean FIRE, I am 47 and have another great job in me but I realized staying where I am unhappy is robbing me of my future as well. My company wants/ needs me to work longer than a two week notice as I am the only SME in my field in the whole company (part of the reason for my burnout but they wouldn't listen) and I am waiting to hear their terms. If all goes well, I will use the severance to live on for my break, hopefully around 6 months, so the stash remains untouched.
I feel such relief. It's a little scary, I'm a very risk averse person, but this feels right. Thank you to those on these forum for the nudge I needed to make this leap!