Many of us are used to the daily grind. Brush your teeth, shower, get dressed, prepare your children for school (if you’ve got any), eat breakfast (if you have time), transport to work, work (of course), come home, eat dinner, go to sleep and repeat the routine on the following day.
Sometimes don’t we all feel a little selfish. Being the introvert that I am, I place a high value on “me time.” This is something everyone cherishes, even if the duration of “me time” is minimal.
Just five years ago, the daily grind was taking ownership of me. As if my career was the only definition of my life and abilities. So, I began to explore. I got into hiking, crocheting and even tried sewing. Although I still indulge in hiking from time to time, the knitting and crocheting fell by the wayside. Hopefully, someone is still getting some great use out of my Singer sewing machine. (I have yet to unload the crochet needles and yarn.)
My desire to learn and develop skills outside my career eventually sparked an interest in soap making. I started by learning the melt and pour method. As time passed, I got over the fear of putting my eyes out with lye (an ingredient in soap making that is to be respected, but not feared) and subsequently dove into cold process soap making.
In 2019, I can say that I have discovered a creative channel that I love… and my eyesight is still just fine. I’ve shared my creations with family and friends….not to mention myself. I can independently produce a useful tried and true product that anyone can use, and that’s tremendous!
Maybe soap making isn’t your forte. But if you haven’t taken the opportunity to explore your specific talents and interests, take the leap now. There are probably a myriad of reasons why you pursued a career in your field. But here’s the thing; you are multidimensional.
As life moves forward, your experiences shape you and can bring to life parts of you that you forgot about. For instance, maybe you had a high interest in bicycling or painting, as a teen or young adult but daily responsibilities of life put a damper on your progress to pursue it.
Here are two simple steps to get started:
- Some people may have several “hats” to wear outside of work. Maybe you’re a parent, caretaker or an active member in the community. If this is the case, start small in your journey and keep moving forward. The idea is to dedicate as much time as you can to your hobby and continue to build upon it until you reach your intended goal. You can dedicate one day to watching a five minute how-to video on You Tube. The next, you could read a couple chapters from a book about your chosen hobby or interest.
- 2. This leads me to the grandest part about developing a hobby…you can learn at your pace, in your free time and in whichever avenue you see fit! What can be better than having this kind of control?
Although it can be a chore to achieve, life needs balance. Having meaningful activities that bring you joy has potential to make you better across all areas of your life. I paced myself during my soap making journey, honed my skills using various avenues and managed to develop my own unique recipes and scents in my finished products…. handmade bar soap.
I have ownership of something and I also have new talents that can’t be denied. The result? Well, I am still a speech-language pathologist but now I can say I’m even more: a self-starter, a creator and an entrepreneur.
Hobbies are great for your health.
Explore the myriad of options and find joy in the journey.
You won’t regret it!
Tiara Queensbury 