Dear Hobbies,
It’s been a while, hasn’t it? I thought it was time to write you a little love letter, to reminisce about all the times we shared. You know, the times I thought I’d finally found "the one"—the hobby that would change everything. But, in true me fashion, we’d get a few weeks in, and I’d end up abandoning you for something new. Yet, even though you were short-lived, you all taught me a little something along the way.
The Knitting Phase: Cozy Dreams, Tangled Reality
Knitting was supposed to be my cozy, relaxing hobby, right? I imagined myself sitting on a comfy chair, needles clicking away, creating scarves and blankets, maybe even one of those oversized chunky-knit throws that Instagram influencers made look so easy. It was going to be my thing.
What actually happened? Well, let’s just say my attempts at knitting were more "artistic interpretation" than "functional scarf." I was left with a pile of tangled yarn, some stitches that didn’t quite make sense, and a dream that fizzled out faster than the yarn unraveling in my hands. But hey, I did manage to accumulate enough yarn to last my baby through her CBC years, so there’s that.
Sometimes, it’s okay to just buy the blanket. Or better yet, just ask someone who actually knows how to knit-like my friend Rose who made this beautiful headband that I wear every day.
The Painting Era: A Splash of Creativity, A Dash of Disaster
Then came my brief stint as an artist. I thought painting was the ultimate hobby, the one that would unlock my creative soul. I was ready to create masterpieces, or at least something that looked vaguely like a sunset. My then boyfriend had all the supplies, and was very convincing when he said I look like an artist. Ooh boy,I was in love.
What did I actually create? Well, let's just say my “abstract” work could only be called “abstract” because it looked nothing like anything in this universe. My "landscape" more closely resembled a scene from a poorly animated cartoon. But in the mess of colors and accidental splashes, there was a strange satisfaction in creating.
Maybe I wasn’t meant for a career in painting or love even, but I had fun, and that’s what matters.
The Language-Learning Obsession: Bonjour, Nǐ hǎo, Adiós, Ciao!
Ah, the dream of becoming fluent in multiple languages. It seemed so achievable when I downloaded Duolingo. For two weeks, I was convinced I was going to be a multilingual traveler, greeting people in Chinese, French, and Spanish without a hitch. I imagined myself sipping coffee in Paris, ordering pasta in Rome, and effortlessly navigating a Shenzhen café.
Fast forward two weeks, and all I could remember was how to say "the cat is on the table" in three languages. Oh, and "I would like an apple." Not exactly the conversation starter I was hoping for. Language apps are great… until you hit verb conjugations.
The Bookworm Ambition: Library Goals vs. Reality
I’ve always loved books, so naturally, I decided that reading would become my defining hobby. My vision was to become the type of person with stacks of books everywhere—books I’d read, books I’d review, books I’d discuss with other like-minded bibliophiles. In my mind, I was a literary guru in the making.
The reality? Well, my "To Be Read" pile turned into a "To Be Dusted" pile, and most of the books I bought for "inspiration" just stared at me from the shelf, judging me as I passed by. I always had the best intentions, but finding the time to actually sit down and read? Not so easy.
To All the Hobbies I’ve Loved Before
So here’s to you, my past hobbies—some of which I loved, some of which I abandoned (often prematurely). Even though you didn’t last long, you gave me something to do, something to look forward to, and something to laugh at when I inevitably gave up on you.
Maybe I didn’t perfect any of you, but I had fun, and I learned. And in the end, that’s what really matters. So, thanks for the memories, the messes, and the moments of joy. Maybe I’ll pick you up again someday, or maybe I won’t. But for now, I’ll just keep adding new hobbies to my ever-growing list.
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