Following my bliss path didn't bring high wealth, but it was an authentic path to happiness.

After college, I did gardening jobs and custodial work to pay the bills. Work was mellow and non stressful. I wasn't qualified for most higher end professional jobs.

I also wrote and did a lot of self publishing thinking, at first, that the experience would look good on a resume. It never got me into so called "professional work," but it was what I wanted to do all along. Now that I'm retired, I'm still doing it.

My first priority was saying what I wanted to say, rather than figuring out what sells. Without a family, pets, or a car to support, there wasn't that much pressure to make lots of money. I also found niches with affordable rent.