Have you ever given up a hobby?
@sudiptacallingu (10879)
India
May 15, 2009 6:53am CST
When in school, painting and needlework were my favourite hobbies. We had those extra curricular activities in school where we could select subjects of our choice and I had selected painting and needlework. I continued with them well after school, into my college days and early adulthood. Somewhere somehow I tucked my paintbrushes (I had them from no. 0 to well over 10/12) in my drawer and then never had the time to take them out. The paints dried on my easel till one day mom washed it clean and the different papers…well they were bundled and kept ‘somewhere’…my last needle-work was about 10yrs back. What made my give them up? Laziness, other priorities, a baby, office…maybe a combination of all! But again somehow, someday, somewhere I plan to take them up…if not needlework, then painting definitely.
Have you ever had to give up any of your hobbies? Or have you made them your profession? Personally I believe people who have made a profession of their hobbies are the luckiest!
5 people like this
29 responses
@dpk262006 (58678)
• Delhi, India
15 May 09
Sudipta!
It is a great idea, and whenever you get an opportunity, you should revive your old hobbies. Indulging in hobbies gives us a high and gives us a feeling of self-satisfaction. It is always good to find some time to indulge in our older hobbes, which we gave up due to our preoccupations after our marriages.
@sudiptacallingu (10879)
• India
15 May 09
DEEPAK!!!!! Where were you for so many days? Delhi mein hawa kafi garam hai kya? OMG its been so many days I haven’t seen this baby face at mylot
Anyways, do you have any hobby that you nurture?
Regarding painting, its very very invigorating. I had given up on this so I was like OK but very recently I was helping my son with some of his projects and doing some paintings and it was then that I really wanted to paint again…maybe a few years later when I no longer need to be a full time mother, I can take up the paint brush again.
1 person likes this
@dpk262006 (58678)
• Delhi, India
15 May 09
Sudipta!
I was very much here kicking and alive.....LOL
!, may be you did not notice the baby face, as you were too busy to add to your number of posts (just kidding). Few days ago only, I started a new discussion, cannot say if you saw that one.
You've asked about my hobby, I would sing, when I was in my school & college, however, gradually, my hobby took a back seat and now whenever I try signing my kids and better half start laughing.
I know painting, sketching and drawing is very invigorating and interesting hobby and it makes one happy. It is really nice that you have good hand in painting. Please start fiddling with the brushes and colours, as and when you get an opportunity. All the best to you.
!, may be you did not notice the baby face, as you were too busy to add to your number of posts (just kidding). Few days ago only, I started a new discussion, cannot say if you saw that one.
You've asked about my hobby, I would sing, when I was in my school & college, however, gradually, my hobby took a back seat and now whenever I try signing my kids and better half start laughing.
I know painting, sketching and drawing is very invigorating and interesting hobby and it makes one happy. It is really nice that you have good hand in painting. Please start fiddling with the brushes and colours, as and when you get an opportunity. All the best to you.
@Rainegurl (2156)
• Philippines
15 May 09
When I was younger, two of my hobbies were writing (just about anything -- stories, poems) and going to the cinema at least twice a week. I do not write anymore because of lack of time to do so and lack of inspiration, i guess. I also cannot go to the cinema twice a week anymore. My husband is not just into going to cinemas and I also have to budget our money well.
You are right, people who made a profession of their hobbies are lucky.
Have a nice day! 
You are right, people who made a profession of their hobbies are lucky.
Have a nice day! 1 person likes this
@sudiptacallingu (10879)
• India
17 May 09
Its sad and surprising really how our priorities change over time
For me too, its the lack of time really, you know just when I feel like taking up something, in comes either my son or my hubby and I am desperately needed to save the world!
@cynicalandoutspoken (4725)
• United States
16 May 09
I've just changed hobbies. I used to obsess over beanie babies and going out dancing at the clubs 3 or 4 times a week. Now I go on crazy 10 + mile hikes through some really dangerous terrain and I spend 5 or 6 days in the gym.
I wish I could go out and dance like I used to but marriage and kids make that a once or twice a year thing.
I'd never want to make a profession out of a hobby. Hobbies are supposed to be enjoyable and/or relaxing. Work is typically neither or those things.
@sudiptacallingu (10879)
• India
18 May 09
Oh Cyn you are of course ever bubbling with energy…trust you to take up such physically intensive hobbies! 
You go biking alone or you have any groups?
Dancing is good and much safer too, so you should renew it at once!
You go biking alone or you have any groups?
Dancing is good and much safer too, so you should renew it at once!@cynicalandoutspoken (4725)
• United States
18 May 09
I won't do anything alone but as long as just one other person is there I am happy. And dancing wasn't always safer for me. LoL Too much to drink and I end up dancing on top of the bar with the bar tender.
@clickicy (571)
• Indonesia
15 May 09
Well, when I was younger I always want to be a painter. Yes, I love painting art. Since I have to pass high school, I had to drop it too. However I didn't continue my hobby as my Grandmother ask me to take a computer science major...
Now, I'm a computer programmer. I don't think I could spend a time to paint anymore as there is no spare time...
Good luck if you want to awake your pass hobby... May you have time and pleasure to do your hobby.
1 person likes this
@sudiptacallingu (10879)
• India
17 May 09
Isn't painting one of the best hobbies ever? An empty canvas is like the clear sky...you can put in your own patterns of clouds and in colours too, wherever and whenver you please to do so...such freedom! Its really hard to take up a computer science job...its very demanding and stressful, I've heard. I just think you should try and take out some time to try and paint how little you can.
@gracie04 (4549)
• Philippines
15 May 09
Yes, I have given up one hobby and that was shopping.. i used to raid my favorite stores before but when i have moved out from my parents house and had my own place, i have learned how to know my priorities.. i don't do shopping for myself anymore and yes, i don't buy branded expensive stuffa anymore.. i would rather buy important things like medicines, food, groceries among others
@sudiptacallingu (10879)
• India
17 May 09
Well its nice that you have set your priorities on practical issues rather than hobbies...but doesnt it somewhere sometime touch a soft spot in the heart, like when you are passing by rows of shops that you would definitely have raided if you had the liberty to do so? Curbing our liberty to do whatever we please and whenever, is something that hurts me more.
@wangyinfeng (75)
• China
16 May 09
yes, I have habby in every section of my life, but I never give them up. As long as I have time I will take them up amd go on with them. That is part of my life actually and you can learn a lot from your hobbies. You dont expect that one day you will succeed when you get into it and it gives you a lot too.
@sudiptacallingu (10879)
• India
19 May 09
Yes hobbies are a great stress reliever and we can learn a lot of new things by them. Its good you never had to give up any of your hobbies...you must have quite a few of them by now.
@sudiptacallingu (10879)
• India
18 May 09
So you are studying to be a doctor! Have heart, once you have a good roaring practice, you will have enough money to just sit back for a few weeks and read and paint as much as you want to.
@hotsummer (13837)
• Philippines
15 May 09
yes i have given many of them cause i could not do them every day or many times a week cause they interfere with my duties in life. i could not able to do them as much i want to . many times before i could have more time but i have accepted it now that i do need to prioritize the more important things in life than those hobby that will not bring me a living.
@sudiptacallingu (10879)
• India
18 May 09
Yes we need to move on with times, what was important yesterday is no longer so…we all have our responsibilities towards our family and that takes precedence over our own likes and dislikes. Its only when I have some free time again that I would reconnect with my hobbies.
@odwyerhl (46)
• Mexico
15 May 09
Yes I had given up a hobby. I was an art major in high school. After I graduated, life stepped in and kept me too busy. Every time I thought about starting it up again after so many years, it seemed like such a hurdle. Had I lost it? Nobody would like it. Buying the equipment would be expensive. I thought of a million reasons why not to. Then I met a friend in my town who taught a little art class once a week. She saw me just doodling one day and bugged me to start up again. I finally went to one of her little painting classes one day, put brush to paint and paper and began to create again. What a good feeling! And what a fantastic way to relax. Unfortunately I don't think I will ever be good enough to make any money at it. But I do enjoy it.
@sudiptacallingu (10879)
• India
18 May 09
yes, what a feeling to just put the brush on paper and do whatever you feel like, so liberating from our daily grind of work and family. I love painting but I seriously have no time for it and even if I could make some time, my son would always barge in and request to be included.
@alvingb (265)
• Singapore
15 May 09
Yeah i have given up a hobby too. I used to play video games very much. I would get the latesdt games for my PS1 and try to sit down for the next couple of days trying to finish the entrie game and then moving on to the next. But along the way as time passed, when my controllers started to give way and couldnt work i kinda just kept it aside. Though its stil right here infront of me i no longer fancy playing them like how i used to play them. Infact it has been about 4 years since i touched them honestly. I guess sometimes we grow out of it..
@sudiptacallingu (10879)
• India
18 May 09
Yes, we all grow out of our childhood games and fantasies. I remember having a small Nintendo game when I was small…it was something like a small screen with an ocean and three lifeboats and a helicopter hovering above and parachuters coming down…one had to maneuver the boat to catch the falling parachuters so that the sharks encircling the boat did not get them! Wow what a cool game and so so so very addictive…I remember I wanted to take it with me to the loo…the only thought of it getting wet somehow stopped me!
@Flirtykumquat (927)
• United States
15 May 09
I have always loved photography. I took so many pictures people thought I was crazy. In high school was worst I was on the yearbook staff for all 4 years so I ended up with literally about 2000 pictures a year. I had friends willing to take pictures and help me find different techinques. Now 5 years later I barely have any pictures. I do own a digital camera but I just gave up taking pictures. I really want to get back into it but have no motivation too.
@sudiptacallingu (10879)
• India
18 May 09
Isn’t photography an expensive hobby? I could not have carried it forward either as a hobby or as a profession. Nowadays of course with the digital camera, it as become a lot easier for many more people to indulge in photography which is good.
@aakansha12 (183)
• India
15 May 09
First of all i was gazing at your post counts , wow! 5272 thats really a good point.
Ok to the point now , i think yes i given up lots of my hobby due to circumstances and may be laziness . I have the great hobby of having pets , i just love pet . Yes i consider this to be my hobby but i am very emotional with this . I left this hobby because my heart always used to break when my pet used to die. I can never see my pet dieing so i gave up this hobby of having pets . Also i once loved to draw but now i have limited it to very less making some photoshop works only.
@Jim1907 (3)
•
15 May 09
Well, have you ever tried origami(paper folding)? It was like what I always do when I was in my elementary years. But after a few years past (including the incident where I got my copies of origami ripped of by my sister T_T) I haven't thought of doing it. BTW their hobbies as their profession? Yeah! they're lucky. :((
@sudiptacallingu (10879)
• India
18 May 09
I don’t know origami except for the basics like paper plane, paper boats and paper flowers which we made at school, just learnt it from friends and now of course I have forgotten all of them. My son has origami at school but most of the designs I find very tough
@technoobs (406)
• Philippines
16 May 09
During my high school, I love doing most of the time in doing electronic projects until my college days. But I came to gave up when another interest caught me which give me little cost and a lot of time, web surfing. I enjoyed web surfing most of the time now a days and come to be much more interested in knowing everything. All your needs of wanting to know is there, its the power of Information drive that at most kept me docked in my seat looking over the internet. seems I lost the interest in electronics when this came out lately which I also plan to be in the Information Technology on my quest to finish a college degree.
@sudiptacallingu (10879)
• India
19 May 09
Oh yes, I forgot the net...why Mylot can be taken as a hobby with me!
Its good that surfing the net has given you a purpose in life, I'm sure you will make an exciting career out of it.
@sudiptacallingu (10879)
• India
17 May 09
Oh Riya knitting is so wonderful. Nowadays every time I buy any woollen item for my son, my mind goes back to the days when mom's eyesight was strong enough and we (Dad & me) never had to buy woollens from shops...rather we went and selected colours and the excitement of actually seeing the item take shape in front of our own eyes, was something I miss today. It would be wonderful (at least for your grandkids) if you could take it up later.
@sudiptacallingu (10879)
• India
18 May 09
Magicians I find have one of the toughest jobs to do. Not only do they have to be super quick and super intelligent, they have to be good actors too! To keep so many people mesmerized by words, knowing very well that a lot many people are actually trying to find the loopholes, needs lot of practice and dedication. Very few manage to make a proper career of it. But I am glad you get the time to practice it on the sidelines.
@metschica25 (5399)
• United States
15 May 09
I used to make soaps a few years back and stopped . needed more money to put in and at the time didnt have it , but love to do it now. Its sad when something or money gets in the way of something we love .
@sudiptacallingu (10879)
• India
17 May 09
Oh do you make soaps commercially now? If so, then you must be one of the lucky few who could make a profession of their hobby!
@Lore2009 (7378)
• United States
17 Aug 10
Hello, I have given up my hobby of boogie boarding because I cannot drive anymore and because I have come to fear waves. I have given up drinking because I want to be more healthier. When I got married, I put away my paint brushes and singing and piano, but now that I'm not married, I started painting and singing again. I think it would be great if I can make a living off of my hobbies too!
@prinzcy (32305)
• Malaysia
15 May 09
I used to write novels and short stories when I was young. I love to imagine the storyline and then pour it into the book. I can't remember how many have I wrote. I did tried submitting them to a publisher but no news come out of it (they don't reject it either) Then, I got into university and start having less time to write. In the end, I just stopped. Now, even if I want to write again, I don't think I can. I did tried to but I stop halfway. The excitement no longer spark like before.
@sudiptacallingu (10879)
• India
17 May 09
I guess when we have time on our hand, our imaginations do run wild! But once we are more engaged in practical activities, more likely in the rat race, there is seldom any time to sit back and think about writing. You know, I really envy successful writers...they have already earned a lot so they do not really need to go out and work and so they have plenty of time to relax and think out plots.
@hramdatt (137)
• United States
15 May 09
yes, i am one of those people who gave up a hobby, i use d to play cricket its a very popular game in the caribbean and other part of the world, i played professionally for a clu and college until i was injured once, and i was out of the game since then, which is about 3 years now, my injury didnt last for more than two months but because i felt so lazy i didnt even wanted to be a fan. so releasing hobbies are common among many people, maybe its because of their prespective taking into consideration many different aspects. some of these aspects may be health, age, importance of that hobbie and many other reason.
@sudiptacallingu (10879)
• India
18 May 09
Sports is one hobby if taken professionally has many benefits. It pays well, keeps the players fit for life, has small shelf life so people are free to take up other interests once the sports career is over but injury is one thing that really plays spoilsport. My hubby was a good cricketer too, in fact he played club level cricket till he dislocated his shoulder bone and after that it was goodbye. His family did not have the money for the expensive and prolonged treatment.
