Tag: writing

Finding Joy in Each Day

You do not know until you try something what you’re capable of. Like working at a job. Or simply discovering a new hobby.

My friend Robin told me years ago that he took an art class to see if he’d like making art. He wasn’t any good at it and it turned out this hobby didn’t rock his world. So he tried something else.

Simply picking one activity first to try is key. It can be the one that most interests you. If this doesn’t give you joy, try the next item to see if that choice gives you joy.

Like a magnet I bought tells us to do: Find something you like and do it forever. This is how I feel about my writing business and projects. I’ve known since I was seven years old that I wanted to be an author.

Some kids express a talent at an early age. Like Tina Turner who told an interviewer: “A 10-year old girl can be singing at church suppers.” Then that girl is 30 years old and performing on stage in a concert.

And even if you have this kind of gift that doesn’t mean you necessarily should or need to become famous on the stage. Perhaps you like to bake yet won’t become a chef. You’ll bake pies to bring to work to share with your coworkers.

There’s myriad ways to have fun on and off our jobs. The point is to have fun each day doing something we love.

I’m writing and publishing to City Voices online a new column titled: Ellemental: Recovery Topics with a Twist of Humor. So far three articles have been posted. In a coming blog entry here I’ll give the links to the first four articles.

I’m first going to continue to talk about finances and retirement. Coming up my take on how to retire on time instead of having to work until you’re in your 70s.

Jobs for Earning Extra Income

To Earn Money

  • Become a busker.

See about earning extra cash by singing at a café where you pass around a jar to get tips from audience members. One vocalist did just this at the Muddy Cup when I saw her perform years ago.

A woman named Maria used to sing and play guitar on the Staten Island Ferry. She was at this gig for over ten years. Riders tossed dollar bills in her open guitar case.

  • Monetize a hobby.

Are you a baker or photographer? Do you have a skill you can get paid for? Do it for dollars.

  • Walk dogs for neighbors.

You can find clients on www.wag.com.

  • Freelance as a writer.

Use www.upwork.com or www.mediabistro.com to find work.

  • Become a Cooking Coach.

Like a friend of mine you can help clients create recipes for cool cash.

  • Do coding or computer projects.

Go on www.guru.com to find work.

  • Sell products you craft.

Either through www.etsy.com or your own Instagram account.

Set up a “craft fair” at your job for coworkers at holiday time.

  • Translate documents.

Should you be fluent in reading and writing in a second language.

  • Teach a language.

Have a method for doing this that will enable students to remember what they learn.

  • Edit or proofread manuscripts.

These days it’s computer-based.

  • Enter a cooking or writing or other contest.

Maybe your chocolate chips will be a winning recipe.

  • Paint portraits.

For the Artists among us.

  • Join a focus group or research study.

www.register.maxionresearch.com

https://www.gigworker.com/side-hustle/paid-focus-groups

  • Get a Mystery Shopper job.

https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/high-paying-mystery-shopper-jobs

  • Become a Personal Assistant

www.thumbtack.com

www.taskrabbit.com

  • Provide tutoring services

www.takelessons.com

www.skooli.com

  • Cut hair in people’s homes.

Superb with a scissor? Find clients like my aunt—she had a hairdresser come to her apartment.

  • Become a private-pay Home Health Aide.

In New York City Aides charge twenty-five dollars per hour.

  • Clean apartments or houses.

Should you not have a car tack on an extra fee for transit fare.

  • Provide tailoring and alterations.

A friend of a friend came to my apartment to pin up my outfits. She charged ten dollars for her transit costs plus the fee for hemming the clothes. Then came to my apartment to drop off the items after she was done.

  • Become the go-to tech person.

For individuals who don’t know how to install or update or use their devices. Help them do this for a fee.

  • Code websites.

Freelance as a web designer. Find clients at www.guru.com. That’s where I hired my designer.

  • Find clients for your editorial or other literary expertise at www.patreon.com where you can get benefactors to pay you.
  • Gain credentials as an expert in a field so that you can be paid to do public speaking. Use the Open to Work designation on your LinkedIn account to drum up business.
  • Write a Substack newsletter for paying subscribers to read at www.substack.com.
  • If this doesn’t clash with your ethics I’ve heard that people can be paid to take part in legal protests and demonstrations. The company Crowds on Demand offers positions. The Google AI information on this states that some believe hiring protestors undermines the authenticity of the activism.

That said nonprofits can offer paid stipends and fellowships for organizers and activists working on campaigns. Should you follow along and care deeply about a specific issue you might try to get paid to promote the cause.

No law exists in the United States requiring disclosure of who is funding political protests. Provided you’re not engaging in illegal methods for the organization you’re rallying around the choice is yours whether to pursue this income stream.