I think one of the saddest things about the internet/instagram side hustle culture/late stage capitalism is that its convinced everyone they're supposed to be making money from their art and if they're not they are somehow a failure.

Creative expression is something you're just allowed to have, to do, to make yourself feel something, you can share it with other people if you want but it's only purpose is to exist

if you want to make money from your skills then fine but don't let it crush you

@tiny_m That's very true. OTOH, a day job can crush you to. I'm trying to find a way to get my passions to pay for themselves and support a dignified life. The alternatives are not pleasing.
@pawsplay yeah I guess I really want young people to live in a society where their value and worth isn't dependent on how much they earn. Obviously everyone needs to pay for rent and food and if you don't have good opportunities then poverty is grim in many ways. I want people to enjoy their own creativity for free outside of those problems. Obviously if you can earn money from your passion then great, but that's not why it has value in your life