Problems in the way we perceive hobbies

 

Hobbies! Aren’t they supposed to be things you enjoy doing in your leisure time? This definition has come to puzzle me these days in this competitive world of constant comparison. People are obsessed with putting the competitive label on everything.

Sure, someone’s hobby could be competitive swimming, competitive dancing. That’s great! But can’t it be just dancing or just swimming? Just because someone isn’t an expert doesn’t mean they can’t have the time of their life. No one should be compelled to be excellent in their hobby.

In fact, hobbies don’t have to be productive either. Remember, its your time to unwind and break free of the shackles of your otherwise pressurised life. At the end of the day, aren’t you doing it for yourself?

You do not have to force yourself to learn a dozen languages just to beat the crowd. Quite contrarily, putting your heart into learning a single language at your own pace will be much more fruitful in the end.

People who go through a ton of activities in pursuit of the “one” that makes them stand out and look cool just distracts you and steals away precious time. This time could have been utilized to achieve further progress in the things they were actually good at or things they actually loved doing. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be open to trying new experiences at all though.

I hold the belief that if learning something doesn’t interest you or make you want to come back again and again, you’re not using the right method for you. Your personal method can only be found by experimentation and no one else can tailor make one for you. If nothing works and you genuinely don’t enjoy it, there’s no point in continuing. It’s plainly not worth it.

Last but not the least, everyone’s favourite excuse. You must have heard the phrase ‘An old pony cannot learn new tricks. This phrase couldn’t have been more incorrect. Unlike how the world makes it seem, people other than child prodigies can be extraordinary. I bet most of you haven’t done something you really desire as you thought you were too old. When I was fourteen, I thought it was too late to pick up a variety of things, fourteen.

In actuality, you can pick up any language, hobby or skill at any point of time and learn just as well and quickly. Say you’re 40. Imagine something you really want to learn. Now imagine you being proficient at it at age 43. Amazing isn’t it?

Try whatever you want in the moment. Otherwise the only skill you will have stuck with is regret. I surely am guilty of this but don’t be afraid of trying and failing.

After all, fear of change ( also  called metathesiophobia interestingly) is just your way of averting success.

_ Siya Gangoli