I was stuck in a dead-end job for many years. But I knew I couldn’t just ‘become a startup’, there were way too many obligations to consider. I chose parenthood and home-ownership over the freedom to start over in my thirties.

Yes, sometimes I let the oppression oppress me. I got depressed at times. I gained weight and drank too much. But I also got satisfaction from my fix-it projects and welding hobby.

My kid grew up, I lost my job and my wife. My daughter and I talk several times a week, which in retrospect is the reward for keeping my focus where it should be (although I had no idea at the time).

I started over much later, but it all worked out.