I Believe… [Cosplayer is an Identity, Too]
…that identity may be a kind of expertise but it is only an expertise in being oneself. The desire to tribe up and gain power through identifiers is a strong one but using your culture, skin color, gender, sex, or political leanings is absolutely no different than identifying as a cosplayer, a foodie, or a sports fan.
...that the question “What do I want my life to look like in my sixth decade?” is more important than the search for money, notoriety, or achievement. Deprioritize income and focus on outcome.