Certain professions are described as a "calling", especially by people within that profession. They use that word to attract would-be students of their vaunted profession, because of course it would be awe inspiring for someone when you wax poetic about how important your job is. Ooh, I want that to be me! I want to be important!

Honestly, a lot of these jobs just take dedication and grit to get. If you actually knew jack shit about the field, you'd know even literal dullard mollasses get their license eventually. If that wasn't true, then malpractice wouldn't be a thing, would it. Regardless of stereotypes about intelligence and such. But the problem isn't getting in - it's getting out.

What if you wanted out? Preposterous! Regardless if you had a plan, if you prepared, if you've done your research. It will be met with immense backlash. "How could you think of that?" As if you've offended the entire profession AND have slung a personal insult at them. When in reality you just wanted another career path. As if such a concept has never occured to them. When your job is a calling - they mean it. They would give their life for this, they would sacrifice anything for it.

The more you stay in it, the more entangled you get. Moreso than other professions who don't have this "it's a calling!" drivel in every speech about it. It's not just the romanticizing of sleepless nights and the 24 hour work shift. It's not just romanticizing putting every single aspect of your life on the backburner for their sacred calling. It's also the fact that they will push what you actually love as a "side gig". Everything is a side gig to these professions. Everything isn't as worthy because it's not a calling, I see.

And no, this isn't that oh so common wish of internetizens about quitting and becoming an artist. If that's you, look in the mirror and stop lying to yourself. Unless you've actually got the skills, which means good for you. You probably have a job, congrats. But the reality is that most don't and that's just sad. The sad reality of internet layabouts becoming full-time artists saying that they accept commissions but then never receiving a commission over multiple months. Homelessness ensues. Tragicomedy. Now THIS is what should be a side gig if you can't put in the work to not be horse shit.

Not everything needs to be a side gig. Especially when you hate your main gig to the core. Especially when you've been forced to do your main thing your whole life because you would have been beaten and kicked out if you didn't. Makes you hate it. Everything about it. Hate. More of that in the future.

Good bye world