I wish I had a crystal ball.
I keep second-guessing how the way I spend my quarantine time will impact my future.
On one hand, I’m the happiest I’ve been since I was a teenager. I’m so excited about the things I can learn and create that I don’t struggle to get out of bed anymore. Actually, other than stress over income, I think this is the happiest I’ve ever been. (That feels extremely weird to say during a pandemic.)
On the other hand, happiness doesn’t pay the bills.
Trying to become an illustrator doesn’t feel practical. It’s a competitive industry, I’ve lost a decade of building skills to the fear of becoming a cliched starving artist, and “making it” could take far more time than I realistically have to replace my income.
A conversation with my fellow employment-challenged friends put this anxiety into sharp focus today. They’re networking, polishing resumes, exhausting job boards. There are spreadsheets involved for god’s sake!
I spent almost an entire day painting.
And I feel like I’ll be quickly left behind chasing a fantasy.
Do I sell my happiness for a guaranteed income, or do I keep busting my ass learning to illustrate and animate in hopes that it’ll someday pay off?
It’s all just a bit hazy.
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