The first is the real and relatable challenge of making a major life change in your 40s. I'm 38 and just made the decision to prioritize my health and happiness over my career, but I can only do that because my career reached a tipping point where the stress involved in each additional dollar earned was rapidly getting out of whack.

So I asked my bosses if there's an opportunity to step down and find a different role, and we're working on that right now. I can't say if this will be successful, but it's a huge relief.

So that's the first side, I think: Recognizing that we all need work that aligns with our values. I don't just mean moral values, but in terms of what you value every day.

But the second part: You're clearly seeing only the negative right now:

"I have no skills" is utter nonsense. If your brain is telling you that, you need to tell it in no uncertain terms to shut the fuck up. That negative self talk will kill you.

Everyone has skills. You also have a degree (is that a Masters in Engineering or a Masters in English?), and work experience. I don't care if it's rusty. Those are huge assets.

Maybe you can't jump right into a $250k/year job. But you also don't need to flip burgers.

Focus on the positive. Focus on your strengths. Stop comparing yourself to others or even to your own past. Let go of those expectations. You may find you already have a great life, or that it's not that far out of reach.