This is the latest in my occasional series on the importance of engaging in some self-care in order to help you deal better with the fight against worldwide authoritarianism and fascism.
There are times when thinking about the upcoming US election in November or the current wars in Ukraine and Gaza can be pretty exhausting. This is a good time to take up a hobby, if you aren't currently doing so.
What kind of hobbies to take up? It depends on your interests and finances. If you're into playing sports it will cost money to buy the right equipment so you can play in a local recreational league. If you’re more interested in collecting different kinds of rocks and you happen to live near a wooded area, you can practically start your hobby for free.
If you’re not sure what kind of hobby to pick up, I suggest a few things:
Go to a local library and go through some books on hobbies like cooking, gardening, crafting, sports, etc. If you find something that you would like, try pursuing it a bit further.
Go to a local arts and crafts supply store or hobby shop to see what catches your eye enough that you may want to pursue.
Ask some friends, acquaintances, or coworkers about what hobbies they are interested in. If something they say really interests you, try pursuing it yourself.
Many community centers offer classes and workshops on a variety of different hobbies that are either free or low cost that may be worth trying.
There are a variety of hobby-related videos on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube that you can watch and decide for yourself which hobby would you like to try yourself.
If you try a hobby but find that it's not really to your liking, don't despair. Just try a different hobby. Sometimes searching for a new hobby is just like the old saying that goes “You have to kiss a few frogs in order to find a prince.”
If you feel that you are too broke to pay full price to buy whatever you need, don't despair. You can buy things like sports equipment, musical instruments, or art supplies used from thrift stores, eBay, Craigslist, or Facebook Marketplace. For artists and crafters there are discount stores like Five Below where you can purchase supplies for under five dollars.
While pursuing a new hobby can be a solitary endeavor, it doesn't have to be. There's a website called Meetup where you can find a variety of groups that are dedicated to different types of hobbies. You can do Google searches for certain local organizations dedicated to—let's say—coin collecting, birdwatching, or stargazing. There are even conventions that are dedicated to certain hobbies, such as comic books, where you not only get to meet other people who share your interests but you can purchase items related to your hobby. All of these options provide an opportunity for you to meet other people in real life who have the same interests as you.
There's even the possibility that this hobby might provide a pathway to a new career opportunity that you never thought about before. I have a friend who worked as an accountant with the Environmental Protection Agency who took a class in fused glass and really loved it. She loved it so much that she purchased a kiln and spent much of her free time making fused glass pieces (like jewelry). She made so much more fused glass jewelry than she could ever wear or give away as gifts so she started selling her wares in various craft shows and street festivals. She did well with selling her fused glass pieces and she still worked at the EPA during the week.
Then Donald Trump became president and started messing with the EPA by installing Scott Pruitt as the head. When the EPA offered early retirement (in an effort to reduce the size of the EPA) and my friend found out that she was qualified, she took it and she now makes and sells her fused glass work full-time. You can check out her work at her Etsy shop and even buy something.
It's okay if your interest in a hobby never leads to a new career path like what happened with my friend. The main idea is to keep your mind engaged and reduce the feelings of despair. Pursuing a hobby provides your mind with enough rest so you'll feel refreshed when you're ready to take on the encroaching threat of fascism.
Other Self-Care Sunday Tips
Contact current friends and make new ones.
Step away from social media for a few hours.
Cultivate a sense of humor and laugh.
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