I gave out an appreciative whistle when I I read this thought shared by Stan Jacobs. He wrote that to be happy in life, develop at least four hobbies:
- one to bring you money,
- one to keep you healthy,
- one to bring you joy, and
- one to bring you peace.
I quite like this thought and this made me relook at my hobbies. I pondered over my passions and wondered if they fit the bill of these 4 categories of hobbies.
And I must say that my hobbies which I pursue do fall in these 4 categories. Let me elaborate…
Hobby that Brings Me Money
Baking : I never thought that what would start as ticking off something from the bucket list would actually become a passion for me and would eventually bring in money for me. Yes, I started baking some 2 years ago as I wanted to learn something new. After a lot of trials and failures, I got the art and science of baking right. I so loved baking that you can find a cake at our home all points of time and my gifts for family and friends on various occasions were home baked cakes. This made my friends and their friends asking for cakes baked by me. I wouldnt have thought of it, but a friend pushed me to stop baking for charity and thus baking became a hobby that brings me money. Of course, it’s on a very small level but I know that it has the potential to become big.
Hobby that Keeps Me Healthy
Swimming : This is the only form of exercise I LOVE truly, madly and deeply. I wish I could pursue it not just for a few months of the summer season but all year through.
Word Games and Puzzles : A few free minutes anywhere and I am on my phone racing against the timer to form words and solve puzzles. I like challenging myself and I believe these games truly stimulate and energise my mind.
Hobby that Brings Me Joy
Reading : I have a passionate love affair with books and nothing makes me happier than to live several lives while reading. I like it when I can lose all sense of time, all worries and stress of life, if only for short time, when reading a good book.
Hobby that Brings Me Peace
Listening to Music : Music is the language of the spirit. It opens the secret of life bringing peace, abolishing strife – Khalil Gibran. And that is why I love to begin and end my day with music. I am not a big fan of FM radio because the senseless chatter of the RJs and the endless advertisements test my patience. But of late, I am listening to Mirchi Love at 104 which plays only love songs. They play best love songs and that too without ads.
What are your hobbies? Do they fall in these 4 categories? Do share!
Linking this to #FridayReflections and
20 Responses
Loved reading this post! Hobbies in different categories. Never thought like that! Good to know that you bake professionally, and that you know that it has the potential to grow big. Positive and beautiful way of thinking. ☺
I really enjoyed this. And l never knew that you were baking and that too professionally. Amazing. How do you find the time, woman? ☺️
That is a really good way of looking at hobbies.. baking is something I love but hardly get any time to do..loved the post…
Loved reading about your hobbies. I loved the quote and it has got me thinking.
This sure is a nice way to categorize hobbies. I’ll make a list sometime soon.
Good luck with that baking! I’m sure it’ll get bigger soon 🙂
Yeah. I have hobbies in all four categories. 🙂
Reading and listening to music is something I have in common with you. Brings me joy and brings me peace. Word games and puzzles as well. I like the challenge, and very fond of Sudoku. Much better than Candy Crush and so on. I play Table Tennis, so that’s the physically healthy option.
Very interesting categorisation of hobbies! Nice to discover a little bit more of you through this post. Amazing you, never knew you bake so well, and that too, professionally!! I too love reading and listening to music and solving puzzles. The daily Sudoku is a great temptation even when I’m rushing for time. 😀
Nice hobbies. I suggest you franchise your cake baking business, just like Mrs. Field’s Cookies.
Sorry. Franchise is the wrong word. I mean expand just like Mrs. Field’s Cookies.
Nice way to classify hobbies. When I tried to slot my hobbies into those 4 categories, realized I’ve turned what are supposed to be hobbies into all-time activities 🙂 😛
wow! that’s a great way to look at hobbies…You bake? that’s a new thing I discovered about you! How about sharing some of your bakes here and of course the pictures? I would love to see that.
I haven’t given a thought to what my four hobbies are, though reading and listening to songs esp by Kishore da would feature as the one for joy and one for peace resp. Making kundan rangolis is the one that brings me money, though it is a small scale enterprise too, but I love doing it and health would be…well, I’m cautious saying this because it is a newly acquired one- yoga. I’m loving it now but only time will tell if it becomes a hobby that i love.
Shilpa, this is such a great prompt for a linkup! I love the insight into your hobbies. You know, I always imagine you doing things perfectly! Wonderful post and great takeaway for anyone who reads this to make their own list. I am making mine. ❤️
You are a rockstar. I don’t have a hobby that can help me make money but I see making money from writing one day 😉
Loved your post and you have some cool things to talk off under your wings.
Wow, now that’s quite a list! I envy people who can bake well. I wish I could segregate my hobbies the way you have. I’m going to have to find my category of hobbies too. This is such a wonderful exercise!
Awesome post about hobbies; love the perspective.
Must say I also loved the look of your blog. 🙂
I absolutely love the categories. Books will be a shared passion.I adore books.
Hobby to bring in money ,joy,peace,and health.
Have to remember these.Thanks for great tips
I loved reading this post, Shilpa!
I have hobbies which fall in three of the 4 categories. My hobbies don’t bring me money, yet. Some day I am sure that will happen, too!
I love writing, reading, sketching, walking, solving sudoku and listening to music. Baking is something I too dream of doing, but I need to learn it well before I dive into it confidently. I bake cakes, but once in a while, and that too the simple ones. I learnt whatever baking I could at home since I won’t leave Chikoo alone to go out for a baking class. But, the entire procedure of baking takes me to a whole new world I so love!
Wow you bake… Now how did I miss that fact about you… I am pretty sure you will make it big 🙂 reading and listening to music is so relaxing 🙂 swimming is one of my favorite form of workout too. Doesn’t it make you feel like a mermaid? 🙂
I loved the Stan Jacob thought you shared. And it’s so nice to know you bake. It is so therapeutic, isn’t it?
High five on Reading and Khalil Gibran!:)
Wow shilpa!! you are a professional baker?! You are a multitalented woman….. awesome…well, i share a few of your hobbies but i don’t know swimming, i hate water and wet areas.