I'm pulling a late-nighter decommissioning stuff and I stumble across your post. Thank you for the inspiration I needed for a new income stream! Please inbox me I believe we have a few commonalities. Or don't I won't be offended. I needed a little kick in the zen.
Nice comment. I am in my 50's and a sysadmin for a large corporation. I absolutely love helping people when I can. I am gifted so that I can give. When I'm gone it won't be long before I'm completely forgotten. That's the way it is. Anyone who is finding life too bleak would do well to seek professional help.
A lot of people want to have done big things. Few want to do the pain in the butt work required to achieve them. More important, talent is a thing and one must have loads of it to reach those extra dreamy goals.
If it ain’t happening in 5 years, it likely won’t ( not counting medicine or law of course). Something artistic like music or stand-up, 5 earnest years should yield at least a hint that you are not wasting your time. It’s also helpful to get brutally honest feedback, whether or not we want to hear it.
In this country you are either rich or some flavor of poor. Simplistic as it sounds, I won’t be able to “exhale” until I am grossing at least $400k annually. I am far from it, and I feel it. I can hardly save at the moment. Health care is a big bite as well. Even w an employer plan. Still have to come up w a $3500 deductible before costs are shared. Not whining. Just saying that even though I have a decent monthly check, I am poor.