It’s All Side Hustles Now

How I finally learned what I am

If you live long enough, and change jobs and careers enough, and rewrite your resume often enough, it can get harder and harder to write that tricky “Profile” section with any kind of clarity or grace. Eventually, you have to re-write it for every single submission, and it’s like telling your whole life story just to check out at Whole Foods.

And when you meet people, you’re always self-conscious about saying you’re a “writer-slash-editor” or “writer-slash-life coach,” or whatever. And you realize that you say “slash” so many times that you’re afraid you’re signaling an unhealthy preoccupation with sharp objects.

I was lucky enough to retire with enough energy to keep working at what I really love — writing, reading, and preaching (which is just talking to people too polite to interrupt). I play with books for hours; I play with ideas from the past; I prophesy the future.

I look at art and I listen to music, but it’s always the words with me and it always has been. My soul is in word heaven these days.

But the rest of me is still here on the planet where things cost money. So, as many do, I’ve turned my work with words into side hustles. And that’s what finally taught me what to call myself.

Rev Dr Sparky: Word Worker

I buy and sell words for a living. That’s pretty much it.

• Most of The RevDrSparky’s posts earn money through Medium’s Partner Program. That means I get rewarded a little when you engage with my words on Medium. Thank you. (Not the stories here in Notes on the Way Up, though — those are free for anyone who wanders in — but the stories elsewhere on the platform are metered.)
• I source beautiful and unique books — first editions, collectibles, curiosities — and sell them to others who love books. I have sites on eBay and at SparkysBestBooks on Bonanza. Just say Sparky sent you.
• I preach in progressive congregations and offer workshops on worship in my state in the Southwest. More words, with some Word behind them. I’m really good at it. Contact me for more information.
• I post occasionally on www.linkedin.com/in/mchristinetata, but I avoid Facebook and Twitter because… well, you know why. To hard to find the signal in the noise.

Crowdsourcing our passions

“Work” no longer means just getting a “job” doled out to you by some capitalist pig (yes, I remember when we all called them capitalists pigs, and we were right, too). Now, everyone is supposed to be an entrepreneur, and for some people, I suppose that’s a good thing.

Well, I’m a terrible entrepreneur and a lousy self-promoter. But I’m happy to be a word worker, and I’m smart enough to know who to thank for that job.

You. Readers.

So thanks for reading.

I literally owe you my heaven on earth.