I'm 45, and perhaps this rather bleak post simply reflects my mindset after a particularly difficult couple of months but here goes.....
It can all vanish in the blink of an eye. Everything you've worked for. Everyone you love. From one moment to the next, your life can change irrevocably. All of it is far more fragile than I ever realized.
When I was younger, I never knew this and simply believed that if I worked hard and did my best, it would all work out.
Damn, that's depressing and I'm sorry to post it. But there it is.
If, right this minute and overall, things are good in your life, be grateful down into your bones.
+1 I am 42 now and it happened to me. Was doing good financially, though we messed up on some things. Uh, LIFE INSURANCE people!! This goes for any not FI yet, whatever the age, if you have someone that may be dependent on you or you want to make sure they will be okay. We honestly didn't think it was a super huge rush to get, both of us with good paying jobs, healthy, daughter grown and out of house. Boom, cancer can suck everything dry, even with health insurance. Two years of fighting it and losing the battle, the spouse was left with nada, no husband, no job (relocated to be closer to his job and family), a mortgage, and a tiny workplace life insurance policy. And I got lucky, Texas, where he was treated, didn't care he was deceased, the spouse was still liable. Like I said, I was lucky in that I wasn't sued for it (probate).
It can and does happen and I am starting over with nothing. It is very real, I'm sorry to say.