You must have written this sitting in my brain, because I was in the same place. I had not written in years until I took leave from my soul-crushing job, and I wondered if maybe it was time to try doing what I loved (I did it with a bookstore, which ultimately failed, but I wouldn’t trade that time for anything).

Not to write an entire article in reply, but I do have to say my situation is different. My well-paid senior management gig got outsourced years ago, so I have been in lower management retail hell, where it would not take much to replace my salary. My children are grown, so if I end up destitute it only impacts their inheritance. And I am on the wrong side of 50, so time is a factor for me.

It would be easy to say “go for it!” It would be just as easy to say “don’t be crazy, chasing after windmills.” I know, however, that the pull in each direction is equally strong. If you do go back to the corporate world, just fight like hell to keep writing.