I enjoy cycling but only with others as it really motivates me, cycling on my own can get rather boring as there is nobody to talk to and push me to go that extra bit further when tackling a large...
I enjoy cycling but only with others as it really motivates me, cycling on my own can get rather boring as there is nobody to talk to and push me to go that extra bit further when tackling a large hill or something similar.
For those hobbies that are inherently done alone, I find talking to other people who enjoy always adds an extra dynamic to the hobby itself as you become not just interested in the hobby itself but the community surrounding it. I used to be into cubing a lot, still am, and for a while I just did it randomly when I was bored and slowly stopped doing it. One day on reddit I stumbled across the subreddit for cubing and my interest in the hobby soared as I realised that I didn't just enjoy solving the cube but I enjoyed talking to others about solving it, their methods, their tips and tricks etc. At the end of the day everyone likes to be part of something, especially when you are surrounded by like minded people who enjoy what you enjoy.
I bought a really nice dutch bicycle a few months ago to ride around, but the road I live on is busy and I get kind of self-conscious. I also live upstairs and since the bike weighs so much, am...
I bought a really nice dutch bicycle a few months ago to ride around, but the road I live on is busy and I get kind of self-conscious. I also live upstairs and since the bike weighs so much, am nervous about taking it up and downstairs, especially since I'm a second shift guy and often don't get home til midnight or later. I really need to work up the confidence to ride it. I live really close to where I work, but I have to go through a pretty rough part of town to get there.
I don’t think it’s physically possible for anyone to look good riding a bike, especially with a helmet on, so don’t worry about being self conscious. I am equally embarrassed when riding around,...
I don’t think it’s physically possible for anyone to look good riding a bike, especially with a helmet on, so don’t worry about being self conscious. I am equally embarrassed when riding around, you just have to remember that realistically nobody actually cares about some random person cycling. My only suggestion would be to invest in a slightly lighter road bike, may be a bit easier to move around and will get you there quicker.
It’s crazy how big the community is as well, I never realised until I joined the subreddit just how many people cube all over the world. I’m exactly the same, just knowing there are thousands and...
It’s crazy how big the community is as well, I never realised until I joined the subreddit just how many people cube all over the world. I’m exactly the same, just knowing there are thousands and thousands of hobbies out there, each with their own dedicated community and culture, really reveals just how different we all are as humans but also how much we value a community to be active in.
I’d say I’m more just someone who browses, occasionally comments, stuff like that. Not super heavily known in the community but around enough so that I understand the current jokes and trends. I...
I’d say I’m more just someone who browses, occasionally comments, stuff like that. Not super heavily known in the community but around enough so that I understand the current jokes and trends.
I would certainly agree that finding other people who are on the same level as you is always a good idea as you can relate to each other a lot more. My friend and I are pretty much equally good at cycling which is nice as we can push each other to do better, go at the same pace etc. which is a lot better than one of being amazingly fit and the other being super slow.
I found that if you have a computer related hobby, like digital painting, or programming, it's nice to stream that on Twitch. You'll have people that come by to chat with you. And you can find...
I found that if you have a computer related hobby, like digital painting, or programming, it's nice to stream that on Twitch. You'll have people that come by to chat with you. And you can find other streamers to share your stuff with.
A couple years ago, when Google+ was starting, there were a lot of communities for various hobbies. I was part of a music composing community and we'd share compositions between each others. And people would comment on everyone's work. It was a similar experience than your's. At some point the creator closed it though. :/ I wouldn't be surprised if Google+ was still a good place to find people.
With Discord, I think it's good to find small focused communities. Usually you'll join a big one at first, and as you talk to people you'll get invited to smaller ones. This is usually the best. (Or start one yourself and invite the few people that you like from the other bigger communities.) The Discord culture is different though. It might take a while to get used to.
Over the years I've gone through so many hobbies in short bursts. Drawing, creative writing, video-making... Often just hopping back and forth between them trying to find satisfaction. At the...
Over the years I've gone through so many hobbies in short bursts. Drawing, creative writing, video-making... Often just hopping back and forth between them trying to find satisfaction. At the moment my interest is on making videos which involve creative writing and drawing. Maybe this'll be the thing that sticks!
I have the same problem about motivation, though. Despite rationally knowing otherwise, I often feel like there's no point in pursuing something creative that nobody will see. I guess a solution would be to treat your solitary drawings as practice for drawings you plan to share? That way they still have a connection to what motivates you.
I'm looking for a new one! I thought about volunteering at a homeless shelter, but feel like that might encourage compassion fatigue. There's a fencing club here that I think it'd be super cool to...
I'm looking for a new one! I thought about volunteering at a homeless shelter, but feel like that might encourage compassion fatigue. There's a fencing club here that I think it'd be super cool to try, but I a big guy and don't know how well that would mesh. I think you have to be pretty fit and they seem kind of serious.
I have a couple hobbies that I seem to rotate through across the years. I'll get into one of them for a year and then my interest will fade away and I'll bounce back into one of the others. It...
I have a couple hobbies that I seem to rotate through across the years. I'll get into one of them for a year and then my interest will fade away and I'll bounce back into one of the others. It works well because I can keep building my skills, albeit with some backsliding every time there's a gap. My motivation tends to be for social and exercise (climbing, social dance). I'm also an introvert and relax by doing things alone, so I find it motivating to spend a day decorating cakes/cookies.
If you find you're not interested in drawing anymore just for yourself, then maybe just let that be and revisit the idea in another year or so. But since you have some drawing expertise, can I ask you for advice for someone just starting to get into it? Is it the kind of thing where you just draw a lot and improve that way, or would you say there are good videos/blogs that really help skill building?
Your post made me realize that almost all of my hobbies are solitary. Reading, writing, and as of three years ago fly fishing. I don't think that's in any way a coincidence. I attribute much of...
Your post made me realize that almost all of my hobbies are solitary. Reading, writing, and as of three years ago fly fishing. I don't think that's in any way a coincidence.
I attribute much of this to simply trying to become at peace with my own company. Overcoming challenges and reaching new goals in my hobbies are therefore tied to milestones in a relationship with myself. If I land a big trout on a new river, there is often a lot of preparation that had lead up to that moment: tying my own flies and leaders, researching the diet of local fish, identifying water structures most likely to hold fish, not to mention the fundamentals like the different types of casts, etc.(I'm self-taught). It's also a means of escapism for me. It's a way to briefly distance myself from my relationships with others and any good or bad that is associated with those relationships. In this way, my hobbies afford me a chance at perspective outside of these relationships.
Oddly enough, I'm a comms specialist, so reading and writing are also my career. But although I'm constantly working with people to communicate ideas, reading and writing are like little islands in the ocean of my work where I can find a little solitude from those around me and just focus.
PS: I just caught a personal best on a new river yesterday, and I'm absolutely over the moon :)
Thank you! And yeah, I like how in a way hobbies end up being a way of tailoring our lives to fit who we are at the time. I didn't get the chance to snap a picture, unfortunately; I caught the...
Thank you! And yeah, I like how in a way hobbies end up being a way of tailoring our lives to fit who we are at the time. I didn't get the chance to snap a picture, unfortunately; I caught the fish in deeper water. I'll have to wait for the next one, but I do have pictures of some flies I've tied and will be making a few more soon, so I'll be sure to get a small album together so I can share.
I found that when my life was less than ideal let go a lot of my interests and escaped into video games and movies. Now that I'm in a fortunate time of my life I find myself less interest in the...
I found that when my life was less than ideal let go a lot of my interests and escaped into video games and movies. Now that I'm in a fortunate time of my life I find myself less interest in the escapism games and movies gave me, not completely mind you, and more interested in hobbies that allow me to create something tangible. I've taken up woodworking as well as taken a class in silversmithing. I really enjoy silversmithing but I felt like getting a shop setup in my garage would have been much more difficult and expensive than woodworking (I was probably wrong).
I've always been a bit of a loner with my hobbies, I would say my personality is like a cat, I wouldn't mind if someone was there doing something similar but I don't think I would want to be working on something with them.
I enjoy cycling but only with others as it really motivates me, cycling on my own can get rather boring as there is nobody to talk to and push me to go that extra bit further when tackling a large hill or something similar.
For those hobbies that are inherently done alone, I find talking to other people who enjoy always adds an extra dynamic to the hobby itself as you become not just interested in the hobby itself but the community surrounding it. I used to be into cubing a lot, still am, and for a while I just did it randomly when I was bored and slowly stopped doing it. One day on reddit I stumbled across the subreddit for cubing and my interest in the hobby soared as I realised that I didn't just enjoy solving the cube but I enjoyed talking to others about solving it, their methods, their tips and tricks etc. At the end of the day everyone likes to be part of something, especially when you are surrounded by like minded people who enjoy what you enjoy.
I bought a really nice dutch bicycle a few months ago to ride around, but the road I live on is busy and I get kind of self-conscious. I also live upstairs and since the bike weighs so much, am nervous about taking it up and downstairs, especially since I'm a second shift guy and often don't get home til midnight or later. I really need to work up the confidence to ride it. I live really close to where I work, but I have to go through a pretty rough part of town to get there.
I don’t think it’s physically possible for anyone to look good riding a bike, especially with a helmet on, so don’t worry about being self conscious. I am equally embarrassed when riding around, you just have to remember that realistically nobody actually cares about some random person cycling. My only suggestion would be to invest in a slightly lighter road bike, may be a bit easier to move around and will get you there quicker.
It’s crazy how big the community is as well, I never realised until I joined the subreddit just how many people cube all over the world. I’m exactly the same, just knowing there are thousands and thousands of hobbies out there, each with their own dedicated community and culture, really reveals just how different we all are as humans but also how much we value a community to be active in.
I’d say I’m more just someone who browses, occasionally comments, stuff like that. Not super heavily known in the community but around enough so that I understand the current jokes and trends.
I would certainly agree that finding other people who are on the same level as you is always a good idea as you can relate to each other a lot more. My friend and I are pretty much equally good at cycling which is nice as we can push each other to do better, go at the same pace etc. which is a lot better than one of being amazingly fit and the other being super slow.
I found that if you have a computer related hobby, like digital painting, or programming, it's nice to stream that on Twitch. You'll have people that come by to chat with you. And you can find other streamers to share your stuff with.
A couple years ago, when Google+ was starting, there were a lot of communities for various hobbies. I was part of a music composing community and we'd share compositions between each others. And people would comment on everyone's work. It was a similar experience than your's. At some point the creator closed it though. :/ I wouldn't be surprised if Google+ was still a good place to find people.
With Discord, I think it's good to find small focused communities. Usually you'll join a big one at first, and as you talk to people you'll get invited to smaller ones. This is usually the best. (Or start one yourself and invite the few people that you like from the other bigger communities.) The Discord culture is different though. It might take a while to get used to.
Over the years I've gone through so many hobbies in short bursts. Drawing, creative writing, video-making... Often just hopping back and forth between them trying to find satisfaction. At the moment my interest is on making videos which involve creative writing and drawing. Maybe this'll be the thing that sticks!
I have the same problem about motivation, though. Despite rationally knowing otherwise, I often feel like there's no point in pursuing something creative that nobody will see. I guess a solution would be to treat your solitary drawings as practice for drawings you plan to share? That way they still have a connection to what motivates you.
I'm looking for a new one! I thought about volunteering at a homeless shelter, but feel like that might encourage compassion fatigue. There's a fencing club here that I think it'd be super cool to try, but I a big guy and don't know how well that would mesh. I think you have to be pretty fit and they seem kind of serious.
I have a couple hobbies that I seem to rotate through across the years. I'll get into one of them for a year and then my interest will fade away and I'll bounce back into one of the others. It works well because I can keep building my skills, albeit with some backsliding every time there's a gap. My motivation tends to be for social and exercise (climbing, social dance). I'm also an introvert and relax by doing things alone, so I find it motivating to spend a day decorating cakes/cookies.
If you find you're not interested in drawing anymore just for yourself, then maybe just let that be and revisit the idea in another year or so. But since you have some drawing expertise, can I ask you for advice for someone just starting to get into it? Is it the kind of thing where you just draw a lot and improve that way, or would you say there are good videos/blogs that really help skill building?
Your post made me realize that almost all of my hobbies are solitary. Reading, writing, and as of three years ago fly fishing. I don't think that's in any way a coincidence.
I attribute much of this to simply trying to become at peace with my own company. Overcoming challenges and reaching new goals in my hobbies are therefore tied to milestones in a relationship with myself. If I land a big trout on a new river, there is often a lot of preparation that had lead up to that moment: tying my own flies and leaders, researching the diet of local fish, identifying water structures most likely to hold fish, not to mention the fundamentals like the different types of casts, etc.(I'm self-taught). It's also a means of escapism for me. It's a way to briefly distance myself from my relationships with others and any good or bad that is associated with those relationships. In this way, my hobbies afford me a chance at perspective outside of these relationships.
Oddly enough, I'm a comms specialist, so reading and writing are also my career. But although I'm constantly working with people to communicate ideas, reading and writing are like little islands in the ocean of my work where I can find a little solitude from those around me and just focus.
PS: I just caught a personal best on a new river yesterday, and I'm absolutely over the moon :)
Thank you! And yeah, I like how in a way hobbies end up being a way of tailoring our lives to fit who we are at the time. I didn't get the chance to snap a picture, unfortunately; I caught the fish in deeper water. I'll have to wait for the next one, but I do have pictures of some flies I've tied and will be making a few more soon, so I'll be sure to get a small album together so I can share.
I found that when my life was less than ideal let go a lot of my interests and escaped into video games and movies. Now that I'm in a fortunate time of my life I find myself less interest in the escapism games and movies gave me, not completely mind you, and more interested in hobbies that allow me to create something tangible. I've taken up woodworking as well as taken a class in silversmithing. I really enjoy silversmithing but I felt like getting a shop setup in my garage would have been much more difficult and expensive than woodworking (I was probably wrong).
I've always been a bit of a loner with my hobbies, I would say my personality is like a cat, I wouldn't mind if someone was there doing something similar but I don't think I would want to be working on something with them.