Wake Up You Need To Make Money | The Embassy Part V

Realize your dreams or make more money?

May 10, 2025

∙ Paid

The past few months I have been thinking a lot about the things that really matter to me, about where I want to be, who I want to be, and what I want to achieve. How much time do I want to spend writing, how much time do I want to spend with the people I care about, and how much time can I afford to spend on both of these while still able to make a living? I know I am not alone in asking questions like these. They are the kinds of questions most of us have to ask ourselves at one point or another.

In many ways, we know exactly what matters to most of us. Yet ever the allure of making just that little bit of extra money manages to wheedle its way into us like some alien parasite, each time nudging us to spend a little more of our dreams, of our time, of ourselves, on things we don’t really want to be doing. And then it comes back for more. Because there is always that next thing we might need that money for. Rent. A house. A car. And of course for realizing those dreams that we have put aside, “just for the moment”.

Many times we know, deep down at least, what we want, yet we insist on keeping on telling ourselves we want something else. Or letting ourselves get convinced we want something else. Looking around me, I see old friends, family members, and acquaintances put all their time into becoming successful, at least according to the metrics of our society. I wish them all the best in their endeavors and hope that they can find happiness in the path they are following. I know it can be done, but that tends to be more in spite of that success than because of it. Because being successful in our society often means setting aside your own human needs and paying less attention to those of others. It often also means letting go of many of the dreams you had when you were that innocent child that you once were, even though that child was probably much happier than you are now.

It takes determination, courage, and a strong connection to your inner self not to lose sight of what you really want. Yet at the same time, in order to survive in this society, you also need a certain amount of financial independence. You do in fact need money to realize your dreams. But how much must you sacrifice before you lose those very dreams?

When it comes to financial freedom, some are luckier than others. Sometimes I think about what it would be like if I could just sit at my desk every day and do nothing but write. While that is the kind of work I really want to be doing, I have also noticed the beneficial effects that going out and interacting with people brings for my mental health as well as for my own craft, even if it is to do work I’d rather not be doing. In the end, I think, it is all about striking a balance that works for you at a certain moment in time. And continually re-evaluating whether it is still getting you what you want. Once it no longer does, it is time to make some changes, to reorganize your life so that you can keep your eyes set on that horizon that you’re sailing for.

Writing makes me happy, it makes me feel fulfilled, it gives me a sense of purpose and a way to express myself in all the varied ways in which I feel the need to. I know I cannot be measured on the scales of success that so many people measure themselves and others on, and that’s okay. I know that what I do matters, and that I keep getting closer to where I want to be, and that I keep growing as a person.

I know that with those feelings I express, with those deepest thoughts I share, I have the ability to reach people, to reach you, perhaps even to play a small part in helping you come to your own insights or decisions or to provide you with something else that is valuable to you.

So just as I am excited to write these thoughts to you, so too am I excited to have finished the next part of The Embassy. The plan is to eventually try and get the whole story published once it is finished, in which case I will let you know where you can get it in full. If you happen to know of any good independent publishers, send me a message at criticalconsent.substack@pm.me. I am also still working on a novel which I hope to get finished somewhere the coming years. Fingers crossed it all works out.

If you would like to be part of my journey to finish this story, or would simply like to support me on an ongoing basis in order to help me realize my dreams, you can take a paid subscription by clicking the button below, or leave a donation. Whether or not you decide to (and are able to) support me financially, your time and attention reading my work is greatly appreciated, and I hope it provides you with valuable information and insights that you can use to make your own life as fulfilling as it can possibly be. Everybody deserves that chance.

Become a paid subscriber

Leave a donation

✋Below these lines you’ll find Part IV of The Embassy. The previous parts of the story can be found here: