Hobbies

List of ‘creative’ hobbies I have tried with varying degrees of success:

• Leatherwork
• Wood burning
• Graphic design
• Novel writing
• Poetry
• Photography
• Blogging
• Wood carving
• Sculpture
• Knife-making
• Stop motion films
• Painting
• Cooking
• Scroll work

For some reason that I have never been able to put my finger on I have always had a strong desire to create things. I’ve never been motivated by profits. I think I just like to see smiles on people’s faces (I usually like to make things for someone). The problem is that I’m not excellent at any of these things. I’m a decent writer, but I can’t stay focused long enough to create a novel.  I take good photos, but it seems like anyone with a good SLR can do that these days. I used to do a lot of wood-burning, but once I had given stuff to all my friends I lost motivation. I love graphic design but I lack the ability and software.

The question I ask is whether or not it’s better to have a bunch of things you are sort of good at or one thing you are awesome at? It’s the old ‘jack of all trades, master of none’ dilemma for us wanna-be Renaissance men. I have to say that my continual plans for the next creative project are fueled at least in part by a wife who is incredibly supportive and also incredibly tolerant of what must seem at times to be a near schizophrenic leap from one medium to another. I am inclined to say I am very lucky, or maybe she’s just an enabler?

She of course has her own need for creativity, like the way she likes to have themed dinner parties and the invitations have to be oh-so right and never store-bought. I’m almost always willing to help her out with these schemes. Maybe we compliment each other that way. Lord knows our wedding was a Herculean tribute to the need to be creative with every detail right down to the place cards and the gift baskets for out-of-town guests.

I know my hobbies are never going away and in the back of my mind I doubt I will ever be able to settle on just one and become really good at it. That’s my lot in life I suppose. The trouble is whether or not I can accept mediocrity as the price for my short attention span. My mother would say, “Do what makes you happy.” That’s probably the best advice for this kind of problem.  I guess it could be worse. I could be one of those people who are always dreaming of an exotic career. My hobbies are cheap and don’t take up much of my time. For now that might the best balance.