No one, not even Milton, ever made a living off of writing good poetry. Only those who were patronized by the rich could ever afford to do only poetry, but even then they did not generate an income off of the sale of their poetry.

That’s a historical “never,” which are pretty hard to come by.

For this reason and others, vocation is more than employment or income. Vocation’s something we hear vocalized in our inner being about our purpose — our literal calling. Income seldom intersects with our vocation, with our calling.

Which is why “I can’t make money at [insert my calling]” is never a sufficient reason to quit. Milton was blind, penniless, and in prison when he fulfilled his calling and wrote the great English epic poem.

What’s your excuse today?