Hobbies and Careers
My musings this morning have drifted towards hobbies. I’m fascinated by the hobbies of STG’s Practice members and have been deeply impressed with the skills on display. Here I refer to @mikemantx’s immaculate outdoor photography and @geoffreysagers ’s incredible Maker projects.
I know there are more hobbies and interests out there, and I’d love to see more! @jhvanorman, I know you’re a musician but have yet to hear your creations. @tommybay and @brentschumann, when do we get to see some soccer vidz?
My time allows for very little self-indulgence, and that unfortunately includes hobbies; however, I’m sure most of you know about my little Halloween costume habit. I love the process of exploring materials, taking risks, learning through failure, finding supplies, and planning.
But as engaging as the process is, NOTHING beats playing those characters when I’m done. For example, I love the mixed expressions of fear and wonderment when Trick-or-Treaters come face-to-face with the Oogey Boogey man. One time, while dressed up as Kylo Ren (Full-disclosure, I didn’t make that costume), I literally brought some Trick-or-Treaters to their knees with a single glare. Gosh I love that.
And here I turn a question to the group that has led my musings: How have your hobbies benefitted, informed, or even distracted from your career? My costume-making, for example, has taught me persistence — that when it looks like my ideas are falling apart, that’s when I need to have faith and press forward. There are always dark moments in our projects, when it looks like we won’t find the necessary solutions. That’s exactly when we need to remind ourselves to just keep moving and wait for the light to burst through the clouds. In time, it always does.
Anyway, I’d love to hear about your intersections between hobbies and bread-winning. Let me know!
