What hobbies and everyday pleasures enrich your life most?

[Aabbaas]

Family and friends aside, what are the things that enrich your life the most and that you are grateful to have/be able to do?

I’ll start:

• my pet
• dancing lessons
• cooking and trying new recipes
• traveling (when I can)
• treating myself to a nice cappuccino in my favourite mug
• reading a good book

I wish my parents had pushed me more as a kid, I would have liked to cultivate more hobbies or a talent in young age (like playing an instrument). Of course I could still do more now but I think it sets you off for a good start when you have the ability to learn and be exposed to more things as a kid.

Please could you share any links? Or YouTube channels?

Oh this sounds lovely!!!

Lego - it's just so satisfying completing a larger build

Gaming. I love being able to enter a different world anytime I want

It is! Also when they know you're coming and call out in excitement.

For me, my vegetable garden is a big source of happiness, as are cooking, baking and making preserves with the produce from the garden.
Bird watching.
Going to the cinema or theatre at least once a month.
Reading novels. Also swapping novels with friends and chatting about them.
Crochet.
Learning a new craft like needle felting or stained glass.
Learning to cook a new type of food.
Keeping chickens and other pets.

@bt1234 (this is BooPear under another name!) This is a great place to start. https://m.youtube.com/@EmmaLefebvre/playlists

Enjoy!

Running, entering running races, reading about running, talking about running, buying running clothes and shoes.

Diamond art is my favourite pastime. With an audiobook.

Cross stitch with an audiobook is a close second. I only do little simple ones so I dont get bored of them.

Crochet. I can only make blankets but I LOVE making them as gifts.

My dogs make me so happy, I hate walking them but love watching them when I do, sniffing away. Snuggling with a dog is the best feeling. Like a pp's dog, they're miniature poodles and they love everyone they meet.

Cats - ours is such a funny wee lad, i just love him so much. We currently have my MIL’s cat while she’s in the midst of selling/buying a house. He was so shut down and it’s been a joy seeing him come out of his shell.

Reformer Pilates - I’m not really an exercise class person but signed up on a whim at Christmas. I’ve gone at least once a week, preferably twice, since January and I love it. My body has changed so much, and it gives me 50 minutes of switching off my inner chatter and pure focus each class.

Reading. But also scrolling TikTok. Balance

Reading, gardening, samba drumming and baking. All activities that I can get completely absorbed in and which quiet my busy mind.

A mix of both! Did a short course in person then switched to online course. Watched kids TV shows with simple sentence structures in the language too which hugely helped (think Peppa Pig but in the language being learnt). Found some simple dual language kids books to practice reading and also did Memrise/Duolingo/italki community forum and progressed from there etc etc. Little and often! Went back and did another course in person too when I felt like I needed a boost.

Honestly, I don’t think I have a proper hobby apart from spending way too much time on screens 😂 I just really like trying new things. I get bored pretty quickly if I keep doing the same thing every day, so I’m always looking for something different to do, even if it’s something small. I think that’s probably what keeps things interesting for me.

My three dogs
Gardening
Listening to music/audio books/ podcasts
Cooking and baking
I’ve bought some wool and crochet hooks as I want to learn.
Doing jigsaws, I have some lovely Wentworth ones.
Looking at the night sky, I have a telescope.

Singing lessons, piano lessons, choir, studying.