Thanks for starting this community!
I started on this path back in 2015, while working at a low paid dead end job. I figured at least if I followed the investing principles from bogleheads, MMM, and r/financial independence, that at least I could retire someday.
Now 8.5 years later, I'm at a much better job in a career I enjoy. More importantly, I'm much further along the FIRE path and could conceivably retire in the next 5-10 years.
It's crazy the confidence that comes from being able to last years on your current savings. With all the rumblings of layoffs/recessions I don't really care if I'm one of them or not. I'm still at a point where I'd have to get a new job eventually if I was to be let go, but I'd be fairly comfortable for several years if I needed to be.