Do you work to live or live to work?

When I decided to call it quits back in April (3 months notice period), many people I spoke to were shocked, hack, I was shocked with my own decision as well even though I have been planning for FIRE all along. Perhaps it's an Asian culture thing to work to the grave, especially for the guys. 

Giving up your career for the kids is uncommon. We go from dual income 2 kids to single income 2 kids. Household income was slashed by 60percent. Everyone asked why isn't my wife the one to be there for the kids, it's a mother's thing you know? My wife and I had a chat about this and she really loves her job and I respect her for it and to me, both parents share equal responsibility in parenting.

I almost felt that I've committed a crime to leave my job but I asked them if I am 65 years old now and not 40, will you be congratulating me? Why can't you congratulate me now for my early retirement? Why do I still need to continue to slog for the next 25 years if I have achieved the milestone 25 years earlier than the social norms?

I do not wish to have deathbed regrets at 49 years old slogging my guts out working and suddenly struck with a terminal disease and regretting not spending more time with the fam. 

My end game for work is to earn a living, if one fine day I have reached a stage that I don't have to work anymore to live my life, why would I still want to continue to work? I'm good at what I was doing but I really didnt like the work. Perhaps now I'll have the freedom to seek out things I want to do.

I work to live, and not live to work. I hope it's the same for you as well. If you truly love your job, there's nothing wrong with it as well as long as it makes you happy. That's the most important.