u/Yukonwallflower

So close, but my disability is getting in the way

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While coast sounds like a luxurious option to me that I would love to have in my life, it's also about survival for me. I'm 34F and I have been living with a disability. Grinding hard through work just isn't a long term option for me, and it's becoming increasingly evident that it may not be a short term option for me. I've been having flare-ups because of work-related stress that are making it difficult to do my treatments.

This has been quite discouraging for me because I had the dream of reaching my coast goal of $1M by 36. I'm turning 35 in September and I'm only at $720K invested and $75K saved. I have $300K in home equity (non-income generating) but I don't count it because it's a shared property with my family and they're too emotional about selling.

I'm struggling a lot with the thought that if I leave my current role now, people will just think I can't hack it. I've been so proud to be in leadership with a disability and I've been blessed with a public platform in my jurisdiction so I can openly talk about my lived reality. However, that platform also is what will likely draw in the peanut gallery that will have a lot to say about my exit.

I'm very torn between sticking it out for another year to try to get as close as I can to that goal but likely struggling a lot through that process, or resign in the near term recognizing that I may be doing a disservice to my community and I will not have reached my goal.

I know this is a bit of a rant, I just needed somewhere to share

Edit: Current expenses are $68K per year, I'm a renter, and currently make $184K per year. I've assumed my investments will make me 5% adjusted for inflation because I want to account for bad markets and/or lifestyle inflation.

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u/Yukonwallflower — 2 days ago

I was diagnosed later in life (34) when the burnout and breakdowns started to become unbearable. I'm in a situation where I have been the breadwinner in the household and have been the one to lead with decision making. I feel like I want to go do what I love - travel. But for the past 2 years I have really struggled with doing that because the planning required is so overwhelming. I don't have a social network beyond 2 people who have their own plans and my partner who also gets frozen by travel planning. I feel like I'm just spiralling further into a pit of despair because I can't seem to action anything on my own and the people around me also aren't able to. I feel like I'm just retreating into a little cave of suppression

Does anyone have tips for how to navigate so I can get back to things I love?

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u/Yukonwallflower — 18 days ago