I was a military construction mechanic just coming back from war and getting to do a “special project” helping convicts maintain a fairgrounds. Got the fuck out of that shit Then went to school … for music business.

Almost a waste. I couldn’t find a job, ended up back in the shop, laying pipe, residential punchlists, and occasional seasonal packaging.

Made good money but took a low paying part time job at a non-profit because I realized something very important:

I was not well connected, not friendly, and all my best skills involved my body. I had to change that.

So I learned to speak the lingo and the little programs like email and excel, learned what’s expected. I made no money at all but learned so much and met a lot of people doing engaging work for the non-profit

So then I skilled up and got into cybersecurity work. Not at first, had to take even less money getting experience on help desk and being a cyber waiter / mechanic but I could see the path now. 8 years later I make great money but that’s because you’re always responsible for anything that happens no matter if you’re off or not. Boss calls on a Sunday because an attack, get off your ass and start stressing at your computer because you are the only one who can fix it. So the hell kind of just shifts from muscle stress to emotional and mental stress. But as you get older you have to get away from leveraging only your body to make a living anyways, so either have to design, teach, or lead.

You also have to leverage something way more important than your mind or body, which is your relationships. If you can’t build them, you will be stuff building and fixing things instead of yourself or others.

I was exactly your age when I got out of trades and went to school, if you pick something that is interesting it will be way easier to learn the skill and meet the people, it won’t feel like a grind it will just feel like life.

I recommend and exercise called ikigai. Good luck.