Granted, I have way too many hobbies: knitting, weaving, gardening, baking, sewing, and making enamel and metal jewelry--just to name a few. Since I retired a little over a year ago, I have delved into my hobbies with a vengeance--taking more classes to expand my skill level, buying a bigger loom, investigating vegan cooking, going to yoga class several times a week, and spinning my own yarn.
I wonder sometimes if I am just trying to stay busy to avoid the reality that I am no longer a professor of English. Then when I think about it, I realize that I have always had hobbies. For example, I love to read and I read every day whether or not I am working. Ditto with knitting. I try to knit for some amount of time daily. So when I was spending hours upon hours upon hours every weekend grading compositions, I would promise myself that if I graded X number of student papers, I could read or knit for half an hour.
I sometimes wonder if I am just trying to fill the void left by a lack of grandchildren. I can't tell you how many well-meaning friends have said to me, " I can't believe that you have four kids and no grandkids!" in a tone of amazement. Gee thanks, I hadn't noticed--whenever everyone else is showing me all their cute pictures of grandbabies on their iPhones--that I don't have any pictures or stories. Am I just a wee bit disappointed that I don't have grandchildren? You bet I am. However, in this life there are no guarantees. I am not "Entitled" to grandchildren simply by virtue of the fact that I am a mother of four. So my focus has always been on how proud I am that all of my children are making the world a better place within their various professions. So that's where my bragging rights come into play.
My dear friend from high school and I walk three times a week. She also has no grandchildren. On our walks we discuss which projects/hobbies we have on our "Lesson Plan" for that day, and week. JoAnne is the only person I know who has more hobbies and projects than I do. The only difference is that her projects look very professional when they are completed, whereas mine always look rather half-assed. She is a perfectionist and I am not! We have often wondered together whether or not we would still be have time for hobbies if we DID have grandchildren? Then we laugh and realize that we would indeed. JoAnne would be finding a crib at a yard sale, decorating it with Annie Sloan paint, and whipping up crib bolsters on her sewing machine. I would be weaving baby blankets and knitting up baby sweaters and sewing up baby burp clothes. Of course, I would also be creating my own line of vegan baby food. That is just how my mind works. *Note: Cindy has five grandchildren and the clothes that she makes for the American Girl dolls are amazing. I will make her post some pictures below!
My dear friend from high school and I walk three times a week. She also has no grandchildren. On our walks we discuss which projects/hobbies we have on our "Lesson Plan" for that day, and week. JoAnne is the only person I know who has more hobbies and projects than I do. The only difference is that her projects look very professional when they are completed, whereas mine always look rather half-assed. She is a perfectionist and I am not! We have often wondered together whether or not we would still be have time for hobbies if we DID have grandchildren? Then we laugh and realize that we would indeed. JoAnne would be finding a crib at a yard sale, decorating it with Annie Sloan paint, and whipping up crib bolsters on her sewing machine. I would be weaving baby blankets and knitting up baby sweaters and sewing up baby burp clothes. Of course, I would also be creating my own line of vegan baby food. That is just how my mind works. *Note: Cindy has five grandchildren and the clothes that she makes for the American Girl dolls are amazing. I will make her post some pictures below!
What is it about hobbies that is so fulfilling? I think it is the challenge and excitement of a new creative project. It gets my mind focused on something besides the horrors of the daily news. When I am out in my sanctuary, what I call The Guild, weaving or spinning yarn, my heart and mind are still, and I am content to live in the Present Moment. I will play instrumental hymns or yoga music on Pandora. It is a great time to meditate and pray. As my yoga teacher, Lisa, says when we end class, "May you have peace in your heart, peace in your mind, and peace in the world." That's what pursuing my hobbies gives to me.
By Cindy
Attempting to follow Jayne's creations with any of my own seems futile - she is so good and creative at so many things. My one hobby is sewing, which I pursue on behalf of my grandchildren, granddog, and American Girl granddolls.
Check out my American Girl Dolls Pinterest site; here are some samples below:
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| Three of my granddaughters have a version of this princess dress |
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| Basil likes a casual look for summertime |
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