I read an interesting blog post over at http://artofmanliness.com/ about hobbies, and it hit home.
Here are the first 2 paragraphs:
Back in the day, leisure time was not thought of as a chance to “veg out,” but as opportunity to pursue one’s passions and interests, an outlet for the sides of a man that were not stimulated in one’s career. Unfortunately, we now often spend our leisure time camped out in front of the TV or computer. We say that modern life has become too stressful, that when we have free time, laying on the couch is all we can manage.
The truth is that spending our leisure time in satisfying pursuits, “fun work,” will refresh us far more than a non-stop marathon of playing Call of Duty. Hobbies can bring you joy, increase your eye for detail, keep your mind sharp, expand your creativity, and help you meet friends and learn valuable skills. They add interest to your life and help you become a more well-rounded man. If you’ve been feeling depressed, restless, or apathetic, the problem may be the lack of having something in your life you feel passionate about, something that brings you needed fulfillment.
I bolded the last sentence, as it’s the one that rang true for me. The piece goes on to list 45 hobbies traditionally done by men during their leisure time. Several on the list were things I used to do, and reminded me how much fun some of them are (were).
The last few years, I have gotten away from my manly pursuits (hobbies). My ‘down time’ has become ‘veg time’. I do not like New Years resolutions, but now is as good as time as any to revisit some of my hobbies what have fallen by the wayside: Martial arts, geocaching, learning guitar, gun shooting, blogging (yeah, by posting here has slowed down) and motorcycle travel.
So here is to turning over a new leaf and revisiting old hobbies!
