This has been a great year for my hobbies, and I cannot recall a time when I was happier, though I am sure the California weather helps too.

For the last 20 years, my hobbies have been: writing and singleplayer videogames, with an occassional side of programming and D&D. Both of those primary timesinks are excellent escapes, but they regularly cause me problems. The former takes an incredible amount of creative energy, and the latter often leaves me feeling unfulfilled.

Expanding my hobbies has really left me questioning: Why have I not done this before?

I have often made the excuse that I do not have enough money and/or time, but the truth is I was afraid that I would not be good it, or that it would not be as fun as videogames. But a lot of studies show the positive effects of diverse hobbies. Sites like WebMD and PsychologyToday both repeat their mental and social benefits. But what I find most interesting about the way the information is presented is that it tries to justify making time for our own personal enjoyment and creativity. Why does it even need to be justified?

The New York Times did an excellent piece on discussing how culture has made it difficult for people to enjoy their hobbies. It really shows how much Americans need to feel like they are using their time efficiently and with purpose because they do not have time for something that is not seen as productive.

And we wonder why so many of us struggle with depression.

I recently stumbled upon a viral twitter post from a few years ago that really got me thinking about about what life should be.

western cultures believe we must be alive for a purpose. to work, to make money. some indigenous cultures believe we’re alive just as nature is alive: to be here, to be beautiful & strange. we don’t need to achieve anything to be valid in our humanness.

@melatoninlau

I find the idea that I do not have to have a purpose to be here quite freeing. And my own self-improvement and skills have benefitted from those thoughts. Over the past year, I have dived into a number of activities and found that I love hands-on crafting, and I do not even have to be “good” at it.

I have loved my time weaving chainmail and more recently the scalemail pauldrons (left). And creating permanent lasting memories by scrapbooking (right) adventures like our Babymoon.

Writing and videogames will always be part of my hobbies, but branching out and creating tangible objects by hand gives a sense of satisfaction akin to growing a garden. And I wish I had started sooner.

What hobbies make you happy?