[Dutch Lock Down Day One Hundred Seventy One]
The other day my dad asked me what I do for fun and the most awesome thing about this is that my mind totally blanked. Not only did I have to reach to the past before COVID but I had to reach before that to pre-kids.
I used to go to the movies on Sunday morning, hang out with friends, and travel all over Europe.
Oh, and escape rooms.
#AllTheEscapeRooms
Those are all Not Possible ™ now so what do I do instead?
Imagine me sitting quietly trying to think of an answer for my dad on that call with the dawning realization that I’ve completely forgotten How To Chill.
But first the news:
- Budget leaks: ministers expect healthcare insurance to rise by €60 a year
- DUTCH HEALTH SERVICE BUCKLING UNDER COVID TESTING PRESSURE
- Dutch Minister of Justice keeps job following wedding photos scandal
It bothered me more than I let on that I don’t have a fun joyous thing that I do just for me. Everything I do, from meditation to yoga, gardening to exercise – it’s for mental resiliency.
It’s so that I can be the best that I can be for myself, my kids, my partner, and my career.
And my inner child is NOT happy.
So I’m looking for things to do. That don’t involve in person classes. That, really, don’t involve classes at all, but maybe online videos. That are cheaper, maybe. And to that end, I looked online.
First of all, I had no idea there were so many hobbies. And second of all, I had no idea so many of the things I do on the daily to maintain that mental resiliency are considered hobbies.
I guess, though, since a hobby, really, is anything you do that you’re not paid to do, that opens up the field quite a bit.
Except, no, parenting is not listed as a hobby.
“A hobby is an activity, interest, or pastime that is undertaken for pleasure or relaxation, done during one’s own time.”
I have to say, though, that I did this research on Wednesday, saw that exercise is listed as a hobby, and suddenly strength training with my personal trainer was strangely joyous.
Not that it isn’t a joy to work with Ifat, but slinging iron is normally a bit of a struggle.
It’s all about your mindset, yo.
And other things I do that’s considered a hobby? Gardening. Meditation. Yoga. Exercise. Public Speaking. Reading. Gaming. Streaming. Bullet Journaling. Social Media. Dancing. Listening to Podcasts. Writing.
But I do all of these things because they’re directly or indirectly contributing towards my job.
Public speaking, reading, streaming, bullet journaling, social media, listening to podcasts, and writing is part of my job.
And gardening, meditation, yoga, exercise, gaming, and dancing makes me better at my job. And better at taking care of my kids and being a better partner and better at coping.
Better at life.
So I’ve got a lot of ‘hobbies’ but I don’t consider them optional or necessarily relaxing and there’s an inner four year old that says we’re missing playtime.
I’m not sure I have TIME to fit more things in the week.
No, that’s not true.
If I prioritise it, I’ll make time.
And I’m prioritising it. But what is ‘IT’?
I could make gardening less therapy and more hobby by being proactive in the dirt. Right now my style of gardening is tearing out weeds and / or using a chainsaw, hedge trimmer, or other horror movie staple. I could actually DO something with that bit of land I cleared of all vines. Plant flowers. Or vegetables. Now that it’s… getting cold.
My timing is a little off.
But this is settling in my mind as a possibility.
But the other part of my mind? Wants to buy a pole. And learn to pole dance. Cause damn that looks like fun.
Holy SHIT my brain just leapt on that one.
THAT is what I wanna do.
Okay, so I’m going to buy a pole and learn to pole dance.
And, no, there won’t be a picture or video record of my progress until I work I’ve made some progress on that self esteem issue, but it’ll happen at some point, definitely – cause I do like to be transparent.
But then, also, take a little initiative with the garden, cause using a chainsaw is good for the soul.
Even outside of Texas.