The first time I fantasized about early retirement, I was 22

"The first time I fantasized about early retirement, I was 22 years old. It was a rainy spring morning in Paris, and as I waited for the Metro to take me to my new paralegal job, it occurred to me that I'd rather be sleeping in, or playing hooky at the movies, or sailing around the world." — Suleika Jaouad. These words capture the longing for freedom, the desire to break free from the structures of society and the expectations placed upon us. At the tender age of 22, Suleika Jaouad found herself dreaming of escape, of adventure, of a life beyond the constraints of a job that, for her, felt confining and uninspiring. Her fantasy of early retirement was not born of laziness or a lack of ambition, but rather from the deep, innate human yearning for freedom, autonomy, and the ability to choose how to spend one’s time. In the heart of Paris, a city known for its romance and liberation, Jaouad’s longing reflects a universal truth: we are often drawn to lives of exploration and meaning, not bound by conventionality but by the unspoken desire to live more fully.

In the ancient world, the concept of freedom was a central theme in the lives of the greatest thinkers and warriors. The Greeks valued autonomy and the pursuit of pleasure in life, but they also understood that true freedom came not through avoidance of responsibility, but through balance and wisdom. Consider Diogenes, the philosopher who, in his rejection of material wealth and societal norms, sought to live a life of absolute freedom. Diogenes famously lived in a barrel and rejected the trappings of conventional life, choosing instead to embrace a life of simplicity and self-sufficiency. Like Jaouad, Diogenes yearned to live beyond the confines of societal expectations. His actions spoke to a deeper desire for independence, where true freedom was not just the absence of work, but the ability to live authentically according to one’s own values.

Similarly, the Romans, who were known for their military discipline and empire-building, also respected the pursuit of leisure and pleasure. The idea of otium, or the time for rest and personal reflection, was valued as much as negotium, the time for work. Cicero, in his letters, often discussed the need for balance between the demands of public life and the necessary respite that allows the soul to rejuvenate. He recognized that true freedom came not from ceaseless work but from the ability to step back and choose one’s path—to choose moments of stillness, relaxation, and even indulgence. Jaouad’s fantasy of sleeping in, playing hooky, and sailing around the world echoes this Roman ideal: the belief that life should be more than mere toil and labor, but a combination of purpose and personal freedom.

Consider the story of Alexander the Great, whose boundless ambition led him to conquer the known world. Yet, even as he achieved greatness, Alexander was not immune to the longings for a life of ease and leisure. In one of his most famous moments of reflection, it is said that Alexander, after conquering much of the known world, expressed a desire to rest, to lay down his crown and escape from the weight of leadership. The conflict within Alexander—between his longing for a life of freedom and the demands of his empire—highlights the tension between the responsibilities we carry and the desires for personal liberation. Jaouad’s fantasy of retirement reflects this same longing for an escape from the grind of daily life, and yet, like Alexander, we are often bound by duty and purpose, torn between responsibility and the wish for freedom.

In our own lives, the tension between responsibility and desire for freedom is a constant struggle. We may find ourselves trapped in jobs or situations that demand our time and energy, and yet we dream of lives filled with adventure, leisure, and personal exploration. Jaouad’s daydream of sailing around the world and escaping the demands of the paralegal job is a fantasy many of us have felt, a yearning for more than the ordinary, more than the routine. However, the lesson here is not to avoid responsibility but to reconcile the need for freedom with the demands of life. Leisure and freedom are not enemies of duty; they are necessary companions that refresh the soul, rekindle purpose, and allow us to approach life with renewed energy and clarity.

The lesson from Jaouad’s words is to recognize that while our work and responsibilities are vital, we must also create space for the things that fill us with joy, freedom, and fulfillment. If we are to live fully, we must balance commitment with self-care, work with rest, and obligation with the freedom to pursue the things that bring us meaning. Whether through travel, creative pursuits, or moments of relaxation, we must actively design our lives to include the freedom to dream, to rest, and to explore, just as much as we pursue our responsibilities. Freedom does not come from avoiding work but from the conscious choice to live a life that encompasses both purpose and pleasure.

So, let Jaouad’s fantasy be a reminder that life is not just about work or responsibilities but about the freedom to shape it according to our desires. Dream, but also live—create a life where moments of rest, adventure, and personal exploration are interwoven with the work that sustains you. Just as the ancients found balance in their lives between duty and leisure, so too must we. Seek that balance, and in doing so, craft a life that is not only full of purpose but also rich with the freedom to live on your own terms.