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I stopped just after turning 50, an age often considered the “peak” of one’s career and finances. Before stepping away, I was working at a trading company. The decision left many of my relatives and friends shocked. One close friend even scolded me: “Are you crazy to give up everything now?”

I was not crazy, just tired. In the years before retirement, my life revolved around long business dinners and drinking sessions to maintain relationships, often out of obligation. My schedule was packed and my phone never stopped ringing. Many people saw that as success, but my body did not.

My health began to decline. I suffered from chronic insomnia, stomach ulcers and high blood pressure. That was when I realized I no longer had the strength to keep pushing myself through the same routine. I began to ask myself what I would lose if I kept going like that.

I wanted to stop and see who I was without a title or job position. I wanted to live more slowly, to appreciate the simple things I had missed before.

My first days of retirement were not easy. I had so much free time that it was hard to fill. Sometimes, hearing friends talk about their luxury trips, lavish parties and big-ticket purchases, I felt a slight sense of envy.

But I reminded myself that I retired to leave those things behind and step out of a cycle that had exhausted me, not to chase other forms of entertainment. Gradually, I learned to enjoy life in a different way, such as walking in the morning, slowly sipping a cup of tea, or reading a book in the afternoon without interruption.

My health improved, my mind felt more at ease, and most importantly, I felt like I had returned to my roots.

I think people at this age often regret the things they wanted to do but were too afraid to try, rather than giving up job titles. I chose to do what I believed was right, even though it went against many people’s expectations. And to this day, I do not regret it.

When you feel the need to retire early and are able to afford it, perhaps listen to yourself. Life is not as long as we think.

*This opinion was submitted by a reader and translated into English. Readers’ views are personal and do not necessarily match Read’ viewpoints.