It is the same for me and all my proteges Mike. I shared my thoughts a few days ago as my worse year on Medium was 2024. I lowered my expectations to ZERO. There are much better opportunities for freelance writers if they do it for money. But like you I also write for joy and educating/inspiring my readers.

Here are two relevant stories to inspire new writers:

What Worked for Me in 2024 and What Didn’t, with Mistakes I Made and Corrected Timely

https://medium.com/illumination/what-worked-for-me-in-2024-and-what-didnt-with-mistakes-i-made-and-corrected-timely-2977f312751c

How I Wrote 4+ Books in 2024 Despite an Extremely Busy Schedule

https://medium.com/illumination/how-i-wrote-4-books-in-2024-despite-an-extremely-busy-schedule-f3f32c3576e3