Recently, I watched a friend take up a hobby and turn it into something spectacular. And then she did it again… and again.
She started with yoga and could barely touch her toes. Fast forward a few years, and she’s now a certified instructor, having recently accepted a position as a yoga instructor!
During the pandemic, she wanted her homeschooled kids to have safe socialization… so she created a Facebook Group, committing to keeping it a health-conscious space for the most vulnerable. It currently has almost 300 members, regular outings, and even enough participation for a yearbook.
Now, she has taken up roller skating.
She started not having skated since childhood and has already upgraded to a new pair that fit her current ability. Weekly, she hits the local skating rink and jams to ’80s and ’90s music, while showcasing her new skills. She even created an Instagram to track her new journey.
She does this while:
- Full-time homeschooling three kids
- Building a house
- Running a photography business
- Maintaining her main job as a mom
- Inviting people to join her in a monthly book reading
- Creating weekly meme shares
- Continuously asking people to meet her to maintain friendships
How inspirational!
Listen… I am generally not one to enjoy standing out, so the idea of putting myself out there like she does is terrifying.
Yet, she inspires me to remember to be a kid… to dream and explore… and to start a new hobby, even if someone else may side-eye me… to grow.
She is a reminder to be YOUR authentic self, even if it isn’t someone else’s taste.
You have lived all these years. You deserve to find a hobby that makes you feel alive, to laugh as you challenge yourself, to share who you are with those you love, and to do so without concern if someone from 20 years ago talks about what they saw you post on social media. Because the people who matter will be cheering you on.
So, grab your cooking books and burn a few cakes before making a delicious family tradition. Borrow a kayak and push yourself to hit a new mileage mark. Take a painting class or grab a single idea from Pinterest and finish it. Make a challenge to read every night for 15 minutes instead of scrolling on TikTok.
Just find your hobby, and let yourself smile from the inside out. You do so much for others; you deserve to do this for yourself.
