Hobbies: A slam book turned life essential

There’s that moment during catch-ups when the topic of hobbies are brought up and it’s answered with a millisecond of a blank stare mid-air. 

Hobbies. 

Memories of my purple and pink slam book usher in my mind immediately. My 3rd grade self would bring it to class, make my seatmates fill in their answers, and I would excitedly open it come dismissal time to see what my peers have placed. I’d jump straight to reading what they’ve jotted under “Motto” and coming in second place was “Hobbies”. 

As adults we tend to get this pressure that a hobby has to be answered with big words or better yet, things we’re good at. 

If you do a quick Google search, hobbies are defined as activities that give you joy aside from work. Simply put: concrete activities that make you happy. 

(Now stop yourself before you wallow into some form of existential crisis on what makes you happy.)

A form of therapy that has immensely helped me with my hobbies is to look back at the things that brought me joy when I was a child. Surprisingly, even your pre-school answer to the coveted “What do you want to be?” or “What do you want to do?” holds a connection to your present adult self. Don’t overthink. Don’t even think if you were good at it. Or if it was shallow or stupid. Just think about what consumed your time and when you felt your whole being was completely absorbed. List it down if it helps. 

Here’s my quick look back at KC circa 7 to 12 years of age: 

I loved collecting kitchen toys and seeing the details of the little appliances. 

I loved collecting food erasers, specifically the Japanese food items. 

I was obsessed with collecting stickers, in all its forms. 

I loved baking cookies and bars and writing down the recipes in my recipe notebook. 

I wanted to be a pastry chef. 

I also wanted to be a teacher.

Now here’s my present attempt:* 

I enjoy journal writing about my days, my observations, and my experiences. 

I (still) like collecting stickers, now from local artists.

I like cooking easy, home-cooked meals.  

I like working out (Who is she?!) 

I love brewing coffee and learning about its intricacies. 

*Specific line items have been kept in privacy due to the writer’s fear of total exposure and vulnerability to the world.

It’s a mix of irony and awe to see how the past self can hold some form of connection or continuity to the present self. Learning new hobbies allows us to discover our changing selves. Relearning forgotten hobbies allows us to be in tune with our past selves. 

It can be hard to make time for them at the onset but the goal is to incorporate them in our lives. Incorporate them in such a way that they don’t feel like tasks but life must-haves. 

After all, if the goal of hobbies in its very definition is to make the human happy, isn’t it exciting?