Redefining Hobbies

One concept I misunderstood for the longest time was 'Hobbies'. It's a simple word, one that we typically learn at a very young age. “So, what are your hobbies?” is a question I've encountered at all stages of life, in various settings - from school and language classes to university, on dates, and even at work orientation days. Let me frame the question differently: What are your interests? What do you enjoy doing? These are some important variations I had to consider as I tried decoding my understanding of the term 'hobby'. I also checked the dictionary meaning of the word, which is essentially - an activity you enjoy doing in your leisure time.

Simple, isn't it? And yet, I found myself hesitating to list singing as one of my hobbies. Mentioning singing seems to invoke immediate expectations, or so I perceived, leading to reactions like, "Oh wow, you can sing?" This assumption made me ponder - how and why had I intertwined hobbies with the notion of proficiency and skill? As I thought more on this, the origins of my confusion traced back to my schooling and upbringing. The atmosphere I grew up in was filled with high expectations of needing to excel in anything new you learn. Despite my mom being relaxed and easy-going, even she found it challenging to resist the pressure to mold me into an 'all-rounder'.

To give you a glimpse, here's a brief rundown of the myriad classes I attended during my childhood: dance, music, drama, painting, gymnastics, swimming, rifle shooting… the list is extensive. Typically, each new activity started as an exploration, blossoming into a genuine interest. However, the moment my enthusiasm became apparent, there came an underlying expectation to improve and excel, which was followed by exams, competitions, and assessments. Reflecting on this pattern now, I realize that my engagement in these activities was seldom driven by pure joy. Sadly, this made me give up on many hobbies. For example, I used to love drawing and painting, but after I had to take two art tests in high school, my interest started to fade away.

Stopping dance is what I regret the most. Dance was a source of joy, especially the thrill of performance. The stage, irrespective of its location - be it a formal auditorium, my school, or the living room of my grandmother's house - was my haven. The audience varied, from spectators in the auditoriums to my friends, family, and neighbors. The essence of performing before an audience, any audience, was exhilarating. I cannot express how much do I miss the stage days. Had I kept the exams secondary, I probably would have not stopped going to my dance classes.

So this is message to anyone who, like me, has been under the impression or continues to believe that excelling in an activity is a prerequisite for considering it a hobby. You don't have to be Picasso or Van Gogh to enjoy art. Knowledge of chords and notes isn't essential to appreciate singing. And yes, you can still enjoy dancing, even if you miss a step or two. Ultimately, there's only one thing that truly matters - are you having fun? Today, the sole purpose of a hobby for me is its ability to bring joy.