I loved chess as a kid and when I think of mental chess I think of a person who is really good at pondering , thinking of several ideas in the same time. So it was a compliment for your intelligence actually hihi.

What a story! Selling your house and going back to studying for so many years...that is just brave! You definetely knew what you wanted and I think that this made you go for it all the way. I admire that!

The risks are always there. But I think that our brain fears novelty in a way and this is why for many years people remain stuck, trying to find rational reasons for why making a change is not an option. I am always happy and hopeful when I hear about stories like yours. I believe that we are a work in progress and we get to rewrite our story every single day. Again and again.