Hobbies are such a great extension of our curiosities & can naturally develop passions we wouldn’t in any other way. There are countless ways to pursue opportunities that fill voids in “everyday” routine. If you can dream it you can find it or create it. Recently had the pleasure of chatting about this with someone who is the polar opposite of myself & has more hobbies than time or money. Why do their whims take them in so many different directions? Can they get out of balance? How do you regain control & not let them control you? It’s not easy but here are the thoughts & lessons learned from a dose of common sense about what we’re spending our time & energy on.
Flip the Script
A challenge to our thinking can come from many different sources & can be the catalyst for change. Our conversation led to one powerful, life changing question. Is what your spending your time on important or fun? Now, if you love questions, really thought provoking ones, this should hit you pretty good. Making a conscious, really well thought out decision is the key. Are flying lessons or softball really important or just for fun? If it’s just for fun or you’re taking on to much risk, they’ll understand you have to step away to pursue other ventures. If the activity is important, those closest to you will understand & throw support your way!
Be Yourself
Staying true to your beliefs can be tough as we tackle responsibilities of home & work. However, it’s essential to stay in touch with who you are, your passions & goals. Tomorrow isn’t promised so making the most of the “present” is not only a gift for yourself but a great example to others on how to enjoy life’s moments along the way.
“Empty” Bucket List
The way we distribute our lives is often kind of silly when we stop to think about it. The time in our lives when we have good health & money we often don’t have time & likewise as we age we have time but not the health or resources. The challenge then is to create space in our lives for the really important goals we have. If you want to climb Mount Fuji you should do it next month not in 20 years. If you always wanted to be a musician you’ll add more substance to your life if you do it now. Applying this common sense is easier said than done but if we’re tactful in expressing the importance of our goals to family & work they will happen.
Life goes slow then fast
Children have the perception that life goes slow. This is probably due to the fact that they are learning new things everyday, it’s all new to them. As we age, time seems to speed up as we learn things through new experiences much less often. Taking time now to purposefully work in your “important” things is vital to living a fulfilled life. There is no wasted effort, we literally learn from everything we do, good or bad. Do yourself & those around you a favor and tap into your incredibly creative self. In this way you’ll feed your curiosities consistently through the “adventures” you take.
Take that trip, climb that mountain, get those piano lessons, learn photography, just go do it! You’ll have much more to share with others along the way because after all we don’t do anything by ourselves. Someone made that toothbrush you use everyday right? What we do simply for ourselves dies with us, what we do for others is our legacy. What will your important adventure inspire others to do?
All the best,
Karl
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