My Non-Writing Hobbies

Due to being an author, I spend a lot of my time either writing or talking about what I've written. Long before I published anything, it was a huge passion of mine, and a massive aspect to my personality. Aside from reading, it's the first thing I remember falling in love with.

Today, I wanted to share some of my non-writing hobbies with you, because as much as I love reading and writing fantasy, there's more to my life than those things.

Painting & Drawing

I'm pairing painting and drawing together here, because I tend to go back and forth regarding which I enjoy more on a given day. I've loved making art since I was a child. I enjoyed taking a blank sheet of paper and turning it into a depiction of how I was feeling, or what I was imagining, in a way that only I could create. I stopped drawing for a number of years, because I felt self-conscious about my skill level, but I started diving back into it again. Art is about self-expression at the end of the day, and I don't need to be "professional artist" caliber to enjoy creating something.

Knitting

I started knitting during quarantine for a few reasons. One, learning to knit had been on my "things I want to learn" list for a while, and I finally had the time to do it. Two, I found that needing to focus on my stitches helped keep my anxiety at bay on particularly bad days. Three, it kept me off of my phone. If I knitted while I watched TV or a movie, I paid more attention to the plot than if I sat there on my phone. I'm not a particularly fast knitter, so I've only completed one and a half scarves since 2020, but I'm slowly working through my latest project.

Crossword Puzzles

When I would go to the beach when I was younger, my parents always tried having me read on the beach. I never liked doing that because the sound of the ocean made it hard to focus and I didn't want my books to be ruined. Eventually, I started doing crossword puzzles instead. Crossword puzzles went from a "vacation thing" to a more regular hobby a few years ago when I had some health issues. I found it was easier for me to distract myself in a doctor's office if I had a crossword to focus on, rather than sitting on my phone, letting myself spiral over what was "wrong" with me. They're also a great way to unwind towards the end of the day if I'm in-between books to read.

Yoga

I started doing yoga in college when I needed to complete a physical education class to earn my degree, because it fit into my schedule. To my surprise, I enjoyed the exercises and the way doing yoga made me feel. It made me more flexible, but it also helped me deal with stress at a point in my life when I was incredibly stressed. I'm not as regimented about it as I used to be, but I try to sneak in a session at least once a week.

I feel like there's been a lot of talk recently about hobbies in general, things "ruining" hobbies, or the need to monetize them. I don't have a ton to add to that conversation, as it feels like a problem each person needs to figure out on their own. For me, I engage in my hobbies to relax and take a break from the "real world". I don't need or want them to do anything more than that.

Until next time, what are some of your hobbies?

Magic & Murder in the Holler is available at most book retailers. I'm also selling signed copies directly on my Ko-Fi shop. Death & Destiny in the Mountains is available for pre-order now.

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