Do you have an interest or hobby you are passionate about?

[Honeybooboo123]

I have a interest which i spend my spare time and evenings doing when I have the time. I feel passionate about it and feel it enhances my life. DH has something similar. Chatting to friends I find that many don't do hobbies or interests outside work and family.
Do you? If not, why not?
And if so, do you think your life is richer because of it?
Or...am i just selfish and self indulgent?

I took up taekwondo almost 2 years ago and I absolutely love it. I watched my kids doing it and thought it looked fun so joined the adult class and haven't looked back. It's ideal as the kids are there anyway, and dd now joins in the adult class.

We regularly compete all over the UK so we get to see different places. The social side of it has been amazing, I've made so many friends, it's like another (supportive) family. Everyone is so encouraging and helpful and I love it - my life is definitely better and richer from doing it (although my bank account isn't!).

I guess it depends what you mean by hobby. I read a lot and we go to the theatre. I sometimes do yoga.

I am quite senior at work and that takes a lot of my mental energy. My 1 year old takes a lot of my physical energy!

Walking, in all weathers but particularly enjoyable in Spring.
Reading all manner of things.
Learning French on an app. I am loving this. Only started in last few weeks but I feel a real sense of achievement. I can now recognise and say 300 plus words and phrases and they are sticking in my head, which I doubted when I started. (App is Memrise). I am going to do Italian next but that is a long way in the future.

Scouting and bellringing are mine. I love both.

desertmum I completely agree - lamb cuddles are well worth any social inconvenience! I wish I had space for sheep here...

pasturesgreen I completely disagree - I'd be very happy for you to talk WWII military history at me. I'm also a history fan, but I tend to specialise considerably earlier - but I'm interested in most aspects and always happy to listen to people talking about their pet topic. I love it when people talk about what they're passionate about - it's far more interesting than small talk about the minutiae of life, which is, routinely, quite dull!

Lots of creative hobbies here but I would really love to find a non-religious choir to sing in. I also try to walk every day otherwise I start to lose the plot.

Don’t know if my name gives it away... I love photography, always have since I was a child with a disposable camera

I like to read and enjoy taking evening classes In languages. Currently having a crack at mandarin which is hard but really fun.
I am a musician by profession which was silly of me as it's sucked the joy from it and I don't do it as a hobby at all any more.

Musical theatre and DIY. I also love tap dancing, but there isn't a group near me. I'd love to take up ice skating.

Reading, gaming, baking, languages (i lived languages at school and am using the Duolingo app to try and improve).

I don't have enough time for as much gaming or baking these days though.

I've taken up learning guitar, after starting on a ukulele.

I'd recommend ukulele as a cheapish fun hobby for those looking for ideas. There are loads of web sites and YouTube channels to help you. You can get a cheap ukulele for less than £30 and you don't need much else. Tuning apps can be downloaded for free to your phone. :)

Lived=loved

Karate, did it as a teenager and started again a few years ago. Not only is it a brilliant stress reliver and helps keep me fit but the social side has just been a godsend. We see each other outside of training fairly often and they're all amazing people.

I'm now 2 years into having opened up my own karate club and it's going from strength to strength.

I'm still learning though and I love that even at my ripe old age I can still learn new things.

I'm also a big reader, could sit and read for hours on end. Love to watch tv too, have my fave shows that'll I'll just watch over and over again with as much enjoyment as the first time I saw it.

Another one for motorbike riding, but now it's usually only when the weather is dry, and more recently I have started shooting, I'm lucky because there are two rifle ranges near my home. Strangely though I find the shooting to be very relaxing.

I developed arthritis 20+ years ago so was I’ll health retired. Depression kicked in big time and it took me years to move past that.
It took me ages to find my niche.
But now, I love crafting. I’m currently enjoying making floating tea cups and topiaries and sell on local Facebook groups. I don’t do it for the money. Whatever £ I do make is used towards my next project, it’s more to help my mental health tbh. I live with chronic pain and that time I’m crafting distracts me from it for however long.
I can’t knit or sew but every now and again I’ll dabble with cross-stitch.
I’ve tried paper craft but it doesn’t grab me.
I used to love to read but can’t concentrate lately.
Every Tuesday, our two grandkids come for tea and we craft together, that 1 2 1 time is priceless.

I exercise, but that is something that needs to be done, not so much a passion as a life enhancer.
My hobby- crafting- is also my full time work. So I am in a very fortunate position.