Changing careers at 15 years into a job, is it realistic? - any advice?

My layoff made me rethink whether to stay in my field. I am in Richmond, in case local advice matters. My family is supportive but nervous. How did you start?

Try a small project in the new field before committing. It told me a lot about whether I would enjoy it.

I began with informational chats, then a short online course, then a related entry-level role. It took about 4 months.