"How much are you getting paid?"This is a question for which I have a growing disdain. My eye roll is almost automatic. If I'm conscious of the moment, I may choose to avert my stare instead. Either way, my response is hesitant and flat. I loathe this question. Not because it's invasive, but because it is, to me, impersonal.

anytime I discuss a current project or a future endeavor, that's personal. I don't confide in just anyone about my dreams. When I do share, all I expect in return is positive, constructive feedback. To me, pay inquiry doesn't fall within these guidelines. I honestly feel as if passion is being reduced to a dollar amount.

As backward as this may sound, some things people do simply because they enjoy them. Yes, as an adult, we dare to have hobbies. It's no secret that once a person masters a hobby they can profit from it. In fact, this is how most entrepreneurs are made. However, not everyone wants to take on the chore of supplying on demand. It can rob a person of the peace that often comes with creating.

Ultimately, it seems there's a vast majority who believe we should be paid for everything we do. For more reasons than one, I think this is problematic. It brings me to question our views on purpose. Do we value ourselves as creators? Or do we only value ourselves as money makers?