The search begins.
Well.. the intro to the search begins...
Hi! I’m Chelsea. And I don’t have a hobby.
I don’t know if I ever have. As a youth, I participated in a variety of after school activities from color guard to theater to Spanish club. (Yes, I was super cool and popular. Thank you so much for asking.)
And as an adult, I have worked (mostly) full-time jobs while pursuing a career as a writer and actor, so a lot of my time has been spoken for. When I’m free, I’ve gotten into the habit of lounging on my couch watching obscene amounts of television or reading with my trusty sidekick Baby Cat.
I know what you’re thinking “Chelsea, wouldn’t reading or watching television be considered hobbies as they are done for enjoyment?” And to that I say, no. Not for me. While obviously I enjoy both, they are something I must do. Not a hobby but a necessity. Like eating. Or brushing my teeth. Or judging red carpet fashion during award season as I sit on my couch in leggings and a sweatshirt purchased from the Haus of Bezos (AKA: Amazon.)
Quite simply, I would like to have some sort of fun time activity in my life that does not necessarily involve screen time.
I’ve dabbled in different hobbies over the years, but nothing has stuck. I tried a few instruments when I was young, but these days, unless it’s playing the Rugrats theme or Right Here Waiting by Richard Marx when I’m near a keyboard, I never continued to play any of them.
I’ve attempted crafting but historically, I’ve gotten bored or lost patience in the process. Doing repetitive little tasks isn’t necessarily how my brain wants to work.
At the beginning of the pandem, when we were all trying to better ourselves with sourdough bread and exercise routines, I decided to try crafting again and made two macrame wall hangings that are in my living room today. But you know, after two, I was done. I got the point of the activity and I wasn’t going to make anymore.
But I want a hobby. An activity that is for pure enjoyment and fun. Something to do that isn’t work or isn’t in pursuit of my dreams and doesn’t necessarily involve a screen. I want a hobby I can pick up once and awhile when I have down time that makes me happy.
The big question though was what? I didn’t even know where to start. So I decided to outsource the search and put out a call for folks to share their hobby with me. I’ll be spending time with people to find out how they got started, why they stuck with it and simply why they love it.
And who knows! Maybe something will stick. Or I’ll just try cool new things I never would have otherwise. Or I’ll meet new people. Or I’ll find a skill I never knew I had. Or maybe, just maybe… I’ll confirm I’m meant to live a life on the couch watching television with Baby Cat.
If we’re being vulnerable (one of my least favorite things to be) this isn’t just about finding a hobby. A big, important part of this journey is to find something that, in the most simplest of terms, brings me joy. I sure as heck could use more joy in my life.
After 12+ years of working full time and chasing a dream career and balancing relationships and social life and family and friends and pets and errands and bills and everything else that comes along with being an adult, I am burnt the fuck out. I am tired. I am having trouble finding creative motivation. Or any motivation for that matter.
I did not have a great 2023 with a lot more downs than ups and some big personal shake ups. And one of my biggest goals of 2024 is to find what brings me joy again. Add things to my life that aren’t stressful, frustrating or necessarily in service of a goal.
I purposefully took a break from creative projects at the end of last year in an effort to heal from some of the burn out and focus on myself during some large changes in my personal life. And while I’m now slowly starting to work on new things, I realized during this break not only do I have the desire for more fun, it’s what I need. I want to play and laugh and be silly and weird and joyful.
Maybe my hobby will simply be trying, and possibly failing at, a lot of different activities and that is a-okay.
Next week, I’ll be sharing my first try at finding a hobby.
And yes… I am making this hobby/joy exploration into a writing project and adding tasks to a brand new to do list. (If you know me, this shouldn’t be a complete surprise.)
I decided to make this search public not only to keep track of the hobbies I try and people I meet, but to share this journey with others so they know they’re not alone.
Because I know for a fact I’m not alone in feeling this way. I know many people who would love more joy and lightness in their lives. For so many adults, it’s hard to find time to relax and have fun. We all have so much going on in our daily lives, we forget to take care of all aspects of ourselves. The parts of us that need joy. To nurture that inner child if you will. Our phones and media have become our go to activity during downtime and they shouldn’t have to be the be-all and end-all of each day. We can do stuff that is simply, truly just for fun without any other objective. And maybe I’ll try something new that will inspire others to do the same.
Thanks for following :-)
If you have a hobby you would like to share with me (and the world) email me at chelseadallasfalato@substack.com
You can also follow me on Instagram for more picture of Baby Cat.