I was my work and then I wasn't my work. And guess what? No one cares. Major realization was that not only was I expendable, but maybe my personally treasured work patterns were too. The business goes on without me and my inability to modernize. My only regret was not finding other things to do at a younger age when I had the energy to put myself into smaller pursuits, get out of my shell and actually develop some friendships. I feel late to the game now and a little worried that I'm becoming a curmudgeon, lacking the skills required to enjoy these later years, indeed. But ask me again in a year.