Deciding to retire at the age of 34 was a deliberate move on my part, shaped by a series of personal losses that underscored life’s unpredictability. The loss of my grandfather to cancer when I was nine deeply affected me and my family. This sentiment was compounded when, at 13, a close friend of mine, only 15, died in a car crash, further impressing upon me the transience of life.
My awareness of life’s fragility was heightened by close encounters with global catastrophes. I had been at the Windows Of The World restaurant in the World Trade Center’s north tower shortly before the 9/11 attacks and had stayed at the Oberoi Hotel in Mumbai just days before the 2008 terrorist attacks there. These incidents, combined with the upheaval of the global financial crisis, led me to reevaluate how I wanted to spend my time. I decided against continuing in a job that no longer brought me satisfaction during what could be the best years of my life.
The recent end of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency has led me to contemplate how the pandemic has influenced my life choices. Much like wildfires, crises are a part of life, and learning from them is essential for better managing future emergencies.
In the initial phase of the pandemic lockdown in March 2020, I recall feeling confined at home with my three-year-old son. With public playgrounds off-limits, we sought out alternative ways to play, even venturing into a closed playground, longing for a sense of normalcy. This decision led to an altercation with a bystander and a park ranger, underscoring the tension between public health measures and individual liberties. The pandemic compelled me, as a parent, to navigate tough choices regarding my child’s activities and well-being, weighing risks and opting for safer alternatives like homeschooling and avoiding crowded places.
Navigating the pandemic with limited information was a continuous struggle. We had to make decisions amidst uncertainty, often relying on personal judgment. This period brought significant changes to our family life, particularly affecting our son’s preschool education and our ability to see family.
To cope, we made several pivotal decisions. We chose to expand our family, embraced full-time parenting, purchased a home better suited for the lockdown lifestyle, and embarked on homeschooling our son, discovering its advantages and challenges along the way.
I prioritized physical health, focusing on weight loss to mitigate COVID-19 risks. Financially, the pandemic presented opportunities in different asset classes, which I leveraged through strategic risk-taking and diversification, including authoring a bestselling book and revising our book on severance negotiations.
Yet, there are regrets. I wish we had moved closer to my parents in Oahu, seized the opportunity for low-cost travel, and made different investment decisions, such as acquiring a vacation home. I also reflect on missed chances in speculative investments and stock sales.
The pandemic was a time of significant action and introspection for me, highlighting the importance of proactively managing your life and making well-informed choices even in times of uncertainty. As we move forward, these experiences will ideally equip us better for any future challenges.
