So often in society today, young people are encouraged to narrow their skills to a specific field in the hopes of landing that ever so elusive "job." Often when learning a new skill, or picking a minor in college they are confronted with the question, "What are you going to do with that?" For some reason, there always has to be a job-focused goal at the end of every endeavor, or at least it certainly feels that way.
When did hobbies stop being common? Maybe one could blame the fact that so much free-time is sucked up by cell phones. Regardless, people used to cook and act and sew and do a number of really cool and relaxing things just for fun. It seems like capitalism has taught us, "If you have a skill, you must make money from it, or you are wasting your time." Moreover, our wonderful brains tell us, "If you are not good at it, you should not do it because people will judge you."
I am here to say NO MORE!
Bake a cake for fun! Paint a mess on a canvas! Go to a dance class and suck up a storm! Build a model rocket and accidentally have it land in a tree! Take those philosophy classes that make you question everything about existence! Write a story about a bowl of soup! Read a book about Viking time travelers! Write a musical about "Call of Duty" ! Do that makeup tutorial you've watched 18 times!
You have been set free!
OK. So I know that sounds obvious, but often people are so paralized by what others will think if they spend time doing something they're no good at or will not "get them anywhere," even though they would be much happier for it. I believe it is this fear that creates a void in which is filled with mindless time on the glowy pocket computer. In the ever inspirational words of a very wise man,
“Choose your favorite spade and dig a small, deep hole, located deep in the forest or a desolate area of the desert or tundra. Bury your cell phone and then find a hobby.” (Nick Offerman, Paddle Your Own Canoe: One Man's Fundamentals for Delicious Living).
Since you're probably reading this on your phone, this article may seem a bit hypocritical, but I can assure you, you'll spend less time reading articles like this one and be happier if you have a hobby just for you. So go do the thing that makes you happy and earn no money at all doing it! Live life just a little more!
