Hobbies...We Don't Need No Stinkin' Hobbies

The number of hobbies in the world is equal to the number of stars. Though, that may be hyperbole. You get my point. During the pandemic, two subjects dominated the news—the Covid (naturally) and hobbies. People were making sourdough, exercising, knitting or painting, or some other activity that I can't think of at this moment. 

Not me. 

I didn’t acquire a new one. First, I’m an author of historical romance so writing is my career. I’ve always read, which led to the author part of my life. I don’t cook or bake. My hands aren’t made for knitting anymore (too much typing among other factors) and painting—no, I don’t want to invest in art supplies besides, I live in New York City. I don’t have the space. 

But I must admit that I have been thinking of acquiring a new one. Something to help me reduce my anxiety, stress and just to escape boredom. Then it dawned on me. When I have free time, I don’t want to do anything. I want to sit down or lie down and let my mind stop working. 

We don’t need to be busy every minute of the day. We can relax, be bored and do nothing. 

That sounds like a great idea, doesn’t it? Lives have enough happening to fill the twenty-four hours of the day. Family, friends, pets, work, home, self-care. So, I say your new hobby has to be doing nothing. You deserve it. 

Get A Hobby. But What?

 

With the world lockdown in their homes and with nothing to do, most people found new ways to occupy their time and discovered new hobbies. Some made bread. Others knitted. There were those who pour over books and some started to write. Those were just a few activities that occupied people’s long stretch of time. But what do you do when your favorites hobbies (reading and writing) are also how you make a living?

 

I had no clue and that was my problem. 

Many advice given to people to destress and find something fun to do is get a hobby. I decided to take that advice and find one that I enjoy and nothing to do with my two favorite ones. I can’t knit because I have arthritis though I had taken it up years ago and found a calm with it. It also helped that I pictured myself as a young Miss Marple but without the murders. I certainly won’t make bread. Cooking isn’t fun for me at all. It turns out searching for a hobby was stressing me out. 

Plaster all over social media were these people posting pictures of their freshly baked bread, sharing recipes, or doing other activities that I couldn’t even begin to understand why was enjoyable. But hey, to each is own. 

So, if you're like me, searching for a hobby and feeling like you were missing out on an experience or lacking perhaps an understanding of this, I’m with you. I felt left out, standing on the outskirts of the group, looking in and wanting to be part of it. 

Then I shifted the way I thought. I have my own group of people who don’t have a hobby and can’t see any enjoyment in the traditional ones and just rather watch Bridgerton or the historical documentaries that I love. So, if you can’t join in with these cool kids toiling away with their hobbies, I want you to remember that follow that beat of your drum, it is much more melodious and enjoyable. 

Do you have hobbies that aren’t cool? Tell me. Tell me. I want to know and maybe, I’ll find a hobby. 

Do You Have a Hobby?

 

I recently completed a few interviews for the His to Protect blog tour and the only question I had any trouble answering was the one about hobbies. What do you think of when you hear the word “hobby”? Activities like scrapbooking, knitting, crocheting and painting come to mind but aren’t as relaxing as they once were.  

Of course, I could have listed gardening, but at our house, I’m not the one who digs in the dirt. I’m the one who plans the garden and advises on the arrangement, so basically, I am, according to my husband, the director. Doesn’t sound like much of a hobby but it does require research and some detailed drawings—sort of like plotting with pictures.

I do like cooking and baking. Punching bread dough or whipping up a new dish is wonderful for getting rid of frustrations or, you guessed it, letting part of my brain concentrate on a pesky plot point while another part is working on the schematics of my latest recipe. Still, I don’t think the activity qualifies as particularly relaxing. I’m basically multi-tasking and thinking of work.

Thrifting sounds like an odd hobby and I guess it is but I love browsing through thrift and antique stores. There’s something relaxing about examining an interesting piece of glassware or vintage clothing that catches my eye. I just know that each piece has a story and yes, I’m aware that my writer’s brain is working on how a particular treasure ended up displayed on a shelf or tossed into a pile but for me, this is more about entertainment than work. The piece itself tends to let me know.

No, I’m not psychic, not one little bit. But I do pay attention. In the past couple of years I’ve

run across some rare finds. Well, rare for a very small town in the mid-west. Most magazines and papers don’t stand the test of time very well but I managed to find a well preserved magazine ©1942 from the Spool Cotton Company that dealt with how to make and mend items so they’d last longer during a war when everything was rationed.

You can’t believe how much information was available for 10 cents. Did I want to know how to refashion a man’s wool suit into women or children’s clothes? No, but for 25 cents, I caught a glimpse of what life may have been like for the woman who’d originally purchased the magazine and cared for it well enough that it lasted 73 years.

I can’t wait until the weather is a little more cooperative and I can spend weekends searching through some interesting shops. Who knows what I’ll find?

How about you? What hobby or pastime makes you smile; relaxes or energizes you?

Until next month,

Happy Reading

Paris Brandon

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A member of Romance Writers of America and published since 2009, Paris writes contemporary, paranormal, erotic and historical romance, throwing in a little mystery and suspense for good measure. When not dreaming up stories featuring heroes who aren’t intimidated by strong heroines, she loves rummaging around antique stores for vintage clothes and jewelry. She lives in the mid-west with her husband of many years and is currently enjoying all of the period dramas on Netflix and wondering where she can find a hat that makes her look as stylish as Miss Phryne Fisher.