Bernadette Calonego's Blog: Eventful - Posts Tagged "hobbies"

Sometimes I like to read books that would not naturally be on my reading list. "Hooked" by Sutton Foster is one of those books. I didn`t even know who Sutton Foster was when I picked up her memoir. I won't tell you too much about the content here but the subtitle is "How Crafting saved my Life."
Several years ago, when I decided to spend a large part of the year in northern Newfoundland where I had met and fallen in love with a man, one of my main worries was: Will I be bored in that tiny fishing community on the edge of the North Atlantic? What will I do in my spare time or on dark evenings? Little did I know that this should have been the least of my worries because I always find something to do. Not only that: There doesn't seem to be enough time to do all the things I want to do.
I tried some crafts, like painting sea shells or glass fusion at the local college, or crocheting blankets, endeavors that I liked but have given up in the meantime.
I founded a local cat and dog rescue group, did fundraising and fostered animals (still do), I started walking dogs and painted furniture. This year I wanted to learn the traditional Newfoundland skill of "rug hooking", creating small pictures made of wool threads in burlap. I had to postpone it to next year.
Most of my time I spend writing books and reading but I always tell myself that I need another craft hobby for leaner times. I love card games and invite my neighbors who love it, too. I wouldn't say that card games save my life but they make it more enjoyable (which is a lot).
So maybe it's true that a rather mundane activity can improve our quality of life drastically. But nothing, nothing beats reading a good book! At least for me.