If Money Didn’t Matter…Well, I Already Did It!

Daily writing prompt

List three jobs you’d consider pursuing if money didn’t matter.

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I left a high-paying, high-stress corporate job at 48. Most people thought I was crazy. I walked away from a career that looked perfect on paper to chase a dream I had been carrying around in my heart: running my own antique store.

I thought I knew a lot about antiques—but I quickly learned how little I actually knew. This was back in the dark ages before Google, the internet, or even smartphones. Learning the business meant hours hunched over heavy reference books, attending auctions just to watch and absorb, and asking every question I could think of to anyone who would humor me. Every purchase, every signature deciphered, every story uncovered from an old object was a small victory—and a lesson. I became a student again, and I loved it.

For 15 years, I woke up every morning excited to get out there. Flea markets, estate sales, auctions—I hunted treasures like a kid on a treasure map, discovering pieces of history that spoke to me in ways money could never measure. I remember arriving at a dusty barn at sunrise, the smell of old wood and mothballs in the air, and feeling like a kid again—heart racing, eyes wide, hands itching to see what treasures were hidden under the tarp in the corner. Or finding a delicate glass vase tucked behind a stack of old magazines, holding my breath, only to realize it was exactly what I had been searching for months. Moments like that were priceless.

I didn’t make corporate money, not even close, but I found something far more valuable: joy, purpose, and a life I couldn’t wait to live. I also discovered something unexpected: you can survive—and even thrive—on far less money than you imagine. You can simplify. You can focus on what actually matters. Money isn’t everything; passion, curiosity, and connection are worth more than any paycheck could ever be.

If money truly didn’t matter, the three jobs I’d consider? Easy: I’d be doing exactly what I did—hunting treasures, uncovering stories from the past, and helping people connect with objects that carry history and meaning. Second, I’d dedicate myself fully to mentoring others, sharing the lessons I’ve learned from decades in business, life, and family. Third, I’d spend even more time writing—capturing stories, ideas, and experiences to pass on wisdom to the next generation.

So if money didn’t matter? Been there, done that. I spent my days doing exactly what lit me up, learning constantly, and building a life that was fun, meaningful, and completely my own. And if I had to do it again? I’d do it in a heartbeat.