Things you 'ought to' like but subsequently gave up?

[MrsLCSofLichfield]

Do you ever realise that you are not really enjoying an activity, and that really it conforms to an idea of the sort of person you think you 'should' be, or aspire to be? Do you give it up with relief or sadness, or a combination of both?

Just a small example - I subscribe to a lot of magazines, it's one of my luxuries in life. The other day I cancelled two of them, admitting to myself that I don't really enjoy reading them, but somehow I feel like I should be the kind of person that enjoys them. I suppose we all have a self-image we cultivate, silly as it sounds.

So, just out of idle curiosity - what have you given up on that never really suited you? A hobby, a role, maybe even a whole way of life?

More...

Gardening
Hot tubs
Camping
Running

Coffee.

Running, prefer to walk
Shopping for clothes, now only if I have to
Picnics
Pubs/parties/forced socialising

Walking up hills - Love the view, but hate the journey. I decided when I got to 60 that I'm never doing any thing again unless I want to.....and this was the first thing I stopped!

Classical music
High heels
Facial and spa treatments
Office job
Cocktail bars

Family holidays! I love my kids and we get on, it should be easy but there hasn't been one that wasn't stressful in some way. Opposite of relaxing and fecking expensive.

This thread is fascinating! Some of these things I feel I really should do because the effort has a good outcome though, even if i don't always like it, like housework. E.g. exercise, eating healthily, sometimes seeing friends/family, being friendly and sociable with colleagues and neighbours and so on - I mean it's important to me even if I can't be bothered sometimes.
Depressing and worthy films I don't bother with now though. I think I used to enjoy them but life's too short I'd rather watch something funny.

Skiing
Oysters
Eel
Mohair and cashmere

@thelegohooverer

My 40s have been one long exercise in ditching oughts and shoulds out of my life and getting acquainted with myself.

This! I please myself these days and if it doesn't fit with other people then meh, whatever.

Recently I have stopped pretending that I enjoy yoga. All my friends love it; some teach it and live the lifestyle. It is very much NFM and I feel quite liberated for ditching it.

My old career. It was one of those glamorous, looks great on paper, people would chew their arm off for the opportunity, type careers. I tried so hard to love it - swapping roles, changing companies, etc - but it simply wasn’t a good fit for me.

Two year ago I finally admitted to myself that I hated it and quit to retrain in something completely different. I’ve honestly never been happier.

I too hate holidays. Same shit different view. Expensive and make me actually feel lonely.

Petit fours
Vom

@Sparklingbrook

Seafood-I just cannot do it. People rave about going to a place by the coast with 'great seafood' but no, it's not for me.

Work dos.

Shellfish in particular, "We found this place doing locally caught Langoustines"... If you found something that looked like that living under your shed there's NO WAY you would eat it

Exactly @MostlyNormalSometimesOdd, don't know why the fact it's a sea creature makes it any more appetising.
All the snotty stuff in shells too. No thank you.

Pizza and pasta
The gf versions are even worse.
Yes olives..
Had to laugh at national trust
Gyms..would much rather dance
Interested comment about musical theatre..just realised I’m not a fan either..wicked was boring.
There’s more
I’m a grumpy old got so I’ve probably got a list a mile long

Snow.

No i won't play in the snow in winter or have a snow ball fight.Slippy cold bastarding stuff.

@Itstheprinciple

Les Miserables.

You couldn’t pay me enough Sat through the film and it was like Jeez did I really pay to watch this miserable garbage

Oh my god
Yes
Snow

Looks lovely on a card or picture
Give me sunshine any day

@FruityPolos

In my late teens I tried to like heels, clubbing, pubs and alcohol. Gave all that up by my early 20s and much happier for it.

More recently given up on finishing books or TV series I have lost interest in - it's not worth it if there's something else I am actually looking forward to watching / reading. Also given up spending too much on birthday cards and gift wrap etc - I love stationery and yes the stuff in Paperchase is still fantastic, but my finances dictate we are now a strict Card Factory household.

Yes, I’ve ditched a few Netflix series that haven’t ticked all the boxes.

Oh yes Poetry. Totally agree with you Wishimay
Never ever been to a full opera…but I reckon I would get bored with unfamiliar bits.
So I’ll pass

Not really a fan of eating out . It’s stressful trying to avoid gluten and dairy
If we are out and about, we tend to go to the tried and tested and I have the same dish

Romantic Valentine dinners
Ususally anything but
Thankfully dh agrees

@Cruddles

Breaking Bad

Haha Me too And I stuck with it for loads of episodes

Wearing makeup. I went through my teens and early twenties thinking that all women wore makeup.

It was incredibly freeing when I stopped at about 25. Now I will wear some if I'm going out somewhere nice (not even always then!) but day to day I'm completely bare faced, and very happy about it.

Coffee. I am a hot mess and definitely someone you imagine is just about scraping by because of copious amounts of caffeine. I WISH I liked it, but I can’t stand it.

Jazz music , where they sound like they are just warming up and contemporary /expressive dance
It’s all so pointless to me