The Joy Of Your Hobby

When you think of your hobby, are you joyful?  Perhaps the question is quite ridiculous. I chose my hobbies to bring me joy, and generally, I desire to share the hobby with my family and friends. In my early 20s, my hobby was strength training. One of the reasons I chose strength training as a hobby was to gain weight and be stronger than the average man my height. I also wanted to be better at certain athletic events I enjoyed, such as church softball, sandlot football with family and friends, swimming, and even throwing the frisbee. Each of these objectives was enhanced when I became stronger. This increase in strength, in turn, allowed me to enjoy my athletic endeavors even more because my performance and endurance increased while strength training. My performance improved, encouraging me to maintain my strength training opportunities. When my friends asked how I was staying in shape and performing better than the average males my age in athletic events, I gladly shared I had a consistent strength training routine. Surprisingly, only a few, “though I invited all who would listen,” wanted to accompany me to the gym. Of the few who did come to exercise with me, only a few continued. I found out when I asked why they stopped; in reality, they didn’t want to put in the necessary efforts to continue. Years later, when I saw these same folks, they would say they wished they would have continued. My reply would always be that you can begin right now to be stronger, and I’ll be glad to help you. Some would start again and, unfortunately, give up again. I quickly realized strength training wasn’t their hobby or part of their joy.

Do you wish you could do your hobby every day for long periods? If your hobby brings you joy and results you like, you will want to do your hobby often and for as long as possible. I have enjoyed strength training and exercise routines for over 45 years. Because of the joy of performing strength training exercises, I look forward to doing so several times weekly. The duration of my exercise sessions can be from 45 minutes to several hours. My exercise routines can consist of not only strength training but also endurance bicycling. Sometimes, swimming with my children and grandchildren for hours is laughter-filled and great exercise when visiting my family. My wife and I enjoy throwing the frisbee and running back and forth for hours together. We also enjoy taking walks through the woods or neighborhoods and sharing about things on our minds.

Has your joyful hobby changed? Though my consistent “go-to” hobby is strength training, I went through a period where my hobby focus changed slightly. In my mid-40s, I decided to be a better bicyclist. And when I say better bicyclist, I want to learn how to maintain a bike as perfectly as possible and ride better than most. I went to a training program at a local bike shop to learn the ins and outs of regular and emergency bike maintenance. Then, once I learned to ride road bikes well, I purchased a tandem bicycle to share the joy of bicycling with others. Years later, I bought a mountain bike to ride more away from traffic and enjoy off-road trails. Simultaneously, I learned about spin bikes for indoor use. After taking several spin classes, I even attended a 3-day class to become a proficient Spin Instructor with Mad Dogg Athletics. 
I enjoyed bicycling so much that I wanted to ride farther on a bike than anyone I knew personally. I wanted to ride further on a bike to build up my endurance better than ever, and I also knew my leg strength would be outstanding. After learning to ride over 100 miles, called “Century Rides,” my goal was to ride 200 miles in one day. This objective required even more training physically as well as mentally. Eventually, I achieved this objective and even exceeded it by riding 375 miles in the mountains of North Georgia, which required over 30 hours. My strength training, of course, helped me accomplish this bicycling feat.

My “hobby joy” of strength training and bicycling continues today. I am blessed to share my hobbies with family and friends and have developed great friendships in the gym and on my bicycle. Having a hobby that I can share that is healthy for wellness and longevity is motivational. 

Lately, I have added another hobby to my lineup: writing. Of course, I will research how to improve my writing skills and abilities so I may share with love how to help and encourage others to improve their smile frequency. I’m thankful to have enjoyed reading and learning from others, and I hope you enjoy reading this and other blogs I’ll share. My favorite book to read from is the Bible. From the Bible, I have learned to share joy, which is what this blog is about. In Proverbs 17:22, I read, “A joyful heart is good medicine.” I pray your healthy hobby will bring you a joyful heart. My hobbies help me smile more, especially when I share my hobby with family, friends, and neighbors. A large bonus is that I can perform and share each of my healthy hobbies for years to come. I hope you enjoy your chosen hobby so much that you want to share it with others to help them to be healthy and smile more.

Please email me and tell me your hobby and why you chose it. I would love to hear about your experiences and how your hobbies bring you joy and health benefits. Sharing our experiences can inspire others and create a sense of community.

Thanks for choosing to read this blog, Walter