Hobbies

[bee well]

I was thinking about hobbies, something we have been talking about here, in the recovery community these days, and elsewhere. I'll throw in self-care. and being "social."

I am a proponent of all of these--whatever it is that's helps us heal, right on, we do us, and it's not the same for all of us.  Unfortunately there is a lot of pressure to measure up "elsewhere."

There are days when self-care equals getting up, having a glass of water and some time for a few deep breaths if that. Some of us get up and go to work, we interact and people don't know what's going on because there is not anything apparently "wrong." Some of us don't, because there are more difficulties and other factors. It's more apparent.

A lot of us don't feel much like small talk at times with people "outside" as we need to conserve energy for other things. There are times when we feel full of enthusiasm but maybe it doesn't translate into what we ideally would want. It's not a matter of wanting or not wanting to do this or that or even motivation most of the time.

We're busy taking on things in order of priority. Dealing with our stuff.

Thinking about that in the context of what we have been through, there is nothing wrong with it. To the contrary, I also think it's ok to applaud ourselves for surviving, nevermind the hobbies, come when they may!

My purpose here is not to say it's a good idea to stop trying (to the contrary) but instead to recognize that these things are relative.

Perhaps I am rambling but I think this is important.

What do you reading think about this? Any thoughts?

[NarcKiddo]

I think the point of hobbies is that we enjoy them. With anything worthwhile there can be times when they might be a bit tedious, or hard work, or time-sensitive when we have other things to do.

My main hobby is fitness and my daily exercise time is sacrosanct. I feel so much better for it, but for sure there are times when the actual session is tedious, hard, frustrating blah blah. Overall, though, I find it totally beneficial and use the tough times as a learning process. However, if I have to miss some days due to more important commitments, that is fine and I don't beat myself up. Likewise if I am ill, obviously.

I'm rambling now, but I think my basic reaction to your post is to agree that things are relative. But we shouldn't throw the baby out with the bathwater. It is all too easy to give up completely when something is not going ideally according to plan. Then we run the risk of adding a "failed" hobby to our other list of things to beat ourselves up about. And that is sad.

[bee well]

Hi Narc Kiddo,

That's a good point. Hobbies are to be enjoyed. Fitness, in some form, is very important for our minds and bodies. It's great when hobbies, happen to befifit our physical self.

The hardest part is getting started and if sometimes we miss days, it's ok. The importaant thing is to continue.

You wrote:
"It is all too easy to give up completely when something is not going ideally according to plan.
but when we run the risk of adding a "failed" hobby to our other list of things to beat ourselves up about. And that is sad."

That is so true, not just for hobbies but in many other areas as well.