"How do you approach your hobby?" Topic

Here's an article about a way of thinking about your hobby. I'm an okay painter but will sometimes pick a figure to do a better job on. I do set goals for painting compared to purchases as seen in the Pledge but don't get too stressed out if I miss them.

As for gaming. It's the time playing not the winning or losing that counts. Supposed to be fun.

Possible poll question? I would think yes.

Anyway here's an article about this.
link

It is a hobby not an obsession. I do hobby "stuff" only 1 or2 times a month. Currently downsizing everything.
Paul

Standing up and walking-- although I have been known to occasionally crawl.

Makes sense, OG. But don't forget the preliminary bombardment and laying down a smoke screen.

True hobbies bring diversion and release. If you've forgotten what that feels like or how to do it, look to the kids. How they run, collect, build and experiment without thinking about it. The way they keep showing up when things don't go according to plan, because they implicitly understand you can't fail at a hobby.

Society already makes you feel like you owe optimal performance to your career, your friendships and your fitness. But your hobbies are on your side. You don't owe them a thing.

Great article. I agree, whole heartedly. My hobbies exist to entertain, challenge, and reward me. If my friends enjoy the fruits of my hobby pursuits (painted mini's and games I put on/participate in), great! If not, I still derive tremendous satisfaction and enjoyment from them, even if no one else ever does. Maybe that is selfish(?), but it makes me happy, and it does not hurt others. I am good with that. Cheers!

Are we still allowed to be bad at our hobbies?

Written from the standpoint that other people force you to do things in your hobby! Someone is allowing you to be bad … or not.

Society already makes you feel like you owe optimal performance to your career, your friendships and your fitness.

Ah, society is doing this to me. They're to blame. It's a fair cop, we'll arrest them, then.

It's sad that something ostensibly dedicated to mental health would have something like that second quote in it.

To paraphrase Sigmund Freud, sometimes a hobby is just a hobby

I'm with Sgt Slag on this article, which I thought made a very good point: if you enjoy doing something, that is what is important not whatever 'objective' standard you reach.

My motto: If a thing's worth doing, it's worth doing badly if you're happy with that. I can't paint nearly as well as many who present the results of their skill online, and I'm no great shakes as a commander of toy soldiers in wargames either, but I'm content with what I do.

Silently, on tip-toe, from around a corner, and preferably in the dark.

How about just 1 outlet for a history buff?

I have never actually thought about it, my hobby is how I spend what free time I have.
I am fortunate enough to have found likeminded individuals with whom I can game with, socialize with on a regular basis. Painting is fun, I'm pretty good at it, many of my friends are better, some worse, but I'm always learning. What I like most about this hobby is the escape. painting a new unit for an upcoming game, working out your points, building a nice looking game table, gaming with my friends, rolling dice, laughing at failed charges, lunch is always a bonus, and just stepping away from a world that is growing increasingly chaotic. For a few hours on a Saturday afternoon, everything is okay. That's how I approach my hobby.

I'm with Zulupaul; this is not an obsession just one of many hobbies.

+1 cavcrazy

I have too many hobbies. I'm just trying to finish one so that I can work on finishing the others. But they all want to be done at once… ;-)

Balls out!

with right foot leading, 70% of my weight on the back foot and my sword in a guard position (usually outside or hanging guard).
Oh wait my wargaming hobby not my HEMA hobby, please disregard above.

Robert

I have several other hobbies in which I am constantly engaged. This one is only relevant when I have the time.

It's one of the primary activities I use to tap into the flow state, which brings me an uncommon sense of concentration and calm.

That's me painting and making things.

When an article begins with an obviously stupid question, I'm not much inclined to read the rest of it.

I'm retired, which means I have lots of time to devote to my hobbies. Miniature wargaming is my only real hobby, and between painting, scenario building, playing games it's what I do with a great deal of my "me time." I've been retired since 2019 that's sort of what my life is like. The love of my life, Mrs. KSmyth is still working for another year and then things may change, but today, miniature wargaming is kind of like my second career, and I'm really comfortable with that. I don't play golf, or snowboard, I don't collect cars or guns and ammunition. I do have an annoying addiction to vinyl records, but really I'm just a guy who likes to paint and play with toy soldiers. Oops, gotta run, I have some AWI figures calling to me.

I wish I would have read this earlier. Thanks FD for starting it.

Right on KSmyth! My wife has also retired and it does limit your time.