My First Dollar

I’ve been writing on Triond for about a month now, and just now, my earnings have reached $1.  (This includes my earnings from February because as a newbie who started mid-month and wasn’t knocking myself out, I earned less than 50 cents during that month.)  As pay for a job, a dollar a month would be ridiculous, so I think the fact that I’m happy about this proves my assertion that the money is a pleasant side effect to me, not a goal of writing.

I see it as another kind of milestone, like the badges — and, I have to admit, about as useful.  None of them are going to change my life in any concrete practical way.  However, neither will most of my other hobbies, past or present.  My life has never depended on my crocheting skills and I’ve never tried to make rent by reading books.  It’s just fun, and that’s OK.

Today’s world is crazy busy and becoming intolerant of hobbies or at least requires them to justify their existence as “stress relief” so they can go do the practical stuff.  Why???  Why are we only allowed to have fun in order to meet a maintenance need so we can go out and work some more?  Why are we defining our lives by how much stuff we can do or buy, rather than how much we live?

My first dollar in Triond earnings represents the fun I’ve had so far writing and publishing online.  And maybe I’ll buy a candy bar to celebrate.