I have been trying to keep my little language business afloat, but the fundraiser hasn't gone particularly well, and new contracts remain frustratingly sparse. For most of my life, I could rely on my skills to make a living out of the things I love: languages, translation, teaching, working with words and people. I built my life around that, and I was rather proud of it. Now, I find myself deeply afraid that this chapter might be coming to an end. That the skills I spent years honing might no longer be enough to sustain me. And what makes this particularly painful is that, for the first time in my life, I am genuinely happy with myself and with the life I have built beyond my work. I have found a sense of peace, belonging, and contentment that once seemed almost impossibly distant. The thought of losing that life because I can no longer afford to sustain it is a fear I struggle to put into words. I will keep trying. I will keep putting one foot in front of the other, looking for work, and doing what I can to keep this little enterprise alive. I am tired, and I am frightened. But I am not ready to give up on the work I love, or on the life I have finally learned to love. This stubborn octopus still has a few more arms to put to work. 🐙 -> https://ko-fi.com/thepurpleoctopus