I'm with you. I've been releasing records for almost two decades, happily selling through a hundred copies of a release and moving on to the next project. But I don't think the author is seeing that and assuming I'm trying to turn my hobby/passion into a side hustle because I'm putting out albums. And I think there are plenty of people doing exactly the same thing with their art — putting it out there, occasionally finding an audience but not counting on feedback or looking for recognition or extra income. It took me a while to be comfortable with this.

At the core of the issue the author is addressing, I think, is status anxiety, which he briefly mentions. I've certainly felt it. It's easy to envy someone with a similar hobby, who's making a living doing it. It does seem like a different kind of pressure these days, at least for those of us with anxiety, to succeed, so it can be hard to slow down and find meaning and joy in a hobby. And it must be especially difficult for someone younger who grew up in this noisy environment.