Story

I'm 29. I just sold my company and received a low 7-figure payout — something I had worked towards for years. The next day, my remaining parent died. My other parent had already passed away a few years ago. Now, at 29, both my parents are gone. Because of the inheritance (which is larger than I expected due to how young they passed), combined with my company sale, I will likely never have to worry about money again.

Professionally, this was the greatest achievement of my life. Personally, this is the greatest loss. I have absolutely zero regrets about my relationship with my parents. They were amazing people, and we had an amazing relationship. I'm deeply grateful for that. I'm grateful, but I also feel very alone and a little lost. I’m not sure what to do next — with my time, my energy, or even with my life.

If anyone has been through something similar — or even if you haven’t — I'd appreciate any thoughts or advice. How do you figure out what's next when it feels like you’ve hit a strange high and low at the same time?