Hobby

Throughout the years I have had many hobbies but lately I have found myself without one. Maybe due to the demands of work I just haven't had the time or the inclination to do anything else. I find myself in a position now where I have time on my hands and not enough things to fill it with. So I decided to find myself a new hobby.

This sounds simple enough, find something you like doing and do it a bit more often than you used to. The trouble is trying to find something that you will like doing and not get bored. I have a notoriously short attention span with regards to the duration a hobby lasts. Example, my stepbrother and I both bought identical Airfix kits and had a competition to see who could complete the kit in the shortest time but with the best precision. For the duration of the task I was completely immersed in achieving the goal and nothing could sway my focus. It was great fun so we bought another but this time it wasn't as entertaining and my precision lessened. I think this lasted about two weeks before I got bored. What began as a fun activity turned into a time consuming chore.

Another hobby I tried was scrap booking but again this lasted a short period of time. I think I managed to create three completed pages in an entire album. I still have all the bits and bobs but I have absolutely no interest in filling the remainder of the album. I have a bookcase full of books, some half read and others I haven't even touched other than to place them on the shelf. Comedy writing was another short lived pastime. I have a notepad somewhere with finished and unfinished sketches with ideas scribbled down waiting for me to complete them. Poetry was an interest once upon a time as was walking. I have collected various different things from stamps when I was younger to Formula 1 memorabilia more recently.

All of these things have been a hobby at some point in my life. I can't explain why I get bored so easily. When I start something all of my energy and attention is focused onto that one thing almost obsessively. Maybe I pour everything I have into it too quickly? Do I need to tone down my initial enthusiasm? Nothing seems to keep me interested for very long. It's almost as though once I have achieved something I need something else then something else. A kind of been there and done that thing, mission accomplished.

After wandering through the never ending suggestion lists on the interweb I decided that I would try painting. Yes I have a sketch book with drawings and watercolours in there. So I have attempted to do this before but this time I'm going to really try and keep it up. The other thing I enjoy doing is photography. So I might try to get involved with that a bit more. I don't know how long this will last but I really feel I should be doing something productive with my time rather than idling it away. Plus I hope the painting will help with the dexterity of my hand. In reality I know this sudden burst of creativity will only last a short period, it always does.