January is National Hobby month according to some event sites.
Do you have something to do?
“A hobby a day keeps the doldrums away.” ~ Phyllis McGinley
What do you do all day if you’re retired? Even if you work full- or part-time, most of us enjoy hobbies of some kind.
After a lifetime of working in the leisure industry (public parks and recreation) and then university teaching in parks and recreation management for 10 years, I learned a thing or two about the various definitions of leisure.
Hobbies are a classification of the broad construct of “leisure.”
Have you ever tried to define the word “leisure?” Does it manifest as a recreational activity, a wonderful cruise, or a spiritual experience in communing with nature?
If you answered yes to any, you would be correct. The definition of leisure is as varied as there are people on planet Earth.
The textbook definitions of leisure include five concepts or dimensions related to the overarching idea of “freedom to choose.”
In a nutshell, leisure is… being free from any sense of obligation; free time from work; recreational activity; freedom to engage in personally meaningful experiences, and lastly, a state of mind.
“Not in doing what you like, but in liking what you do is the secret of happiness.” —J.M. Barrie
OK, back to “hobby,” which according to online dictionary sources, is an activity or interest pursued for pleasure or relaxation during one’s spare time and outside one’s regular occupation.
As for my hobbies which include walking/hiking, travel, caring for my dog, gardening, birding, and photography, I also consider blogging a hobby.
“If I had a penny for every time I gasped at a view, I’d be rich.” ~ Unknown
Some argue that blogging is not a hobby, but unless you are getting paid to do it, it is not work or an obligation from an external source. To blog is a choice and we have complete autonomy to write and share what we choose, when, and how much.
For those who disagree, many of us busy bloggers engage in “serious leisure.” Yes, it’s a “thing!” Before your eyes glaze over, please consider this information describing the Serious Leisure Perspective. (Perhaps now you know how “Second Wind Leisure Perspectives” was created).
Leisure is defined within the serious leisure perspective as an un-coerced, contextually framed activity engaged in during free time, which people want to do and, using their abilities and resources, actually do in either a satisfying or a fulfilling way (or both).
“Serious leisure is the systematic pursuit of an amateur, hobbyist, or volunteer core activity that is highly substantial, interesting, and fulfilling and where, in the typical case, participants find a career in acquiring and expressing a combination of its special skills, knowledge, and experience.”
(Stebbins, Amateurs, Professionals, and Serious Leisure, 1992)
To illustrate this point, imagine you walk into a hospital/medical center for your doctor’s appointment. Who reaches out to help you first? Oftentimes you find an older volunteer who “works” at the information desk.
This man or woman likely works a pre-arranged schedule, attends meetings, abides by hospital rules, and carries out the mission of the hospital. Sounds a bit like a job doesn’t it? Part of what defines this as leisure time for the volunteer is it’s purely voluntary and a choice made by the volunteer to function in this capacity.
Many volunteers do so for social engagement and to continue giving back. These volunteers pictured below give their time to help rescue and support birds of prey and raptors in Northwest Idaho.
“What on earth would a man do with himself if something did not stand in his way?” —H.G. Wells
Blogging as Serious Leisure
Perhaps blogging can be viewed in this context. It is a choice, we don’t get paid, and no one is making us do it. For those of us who host challenges, it may feel a bit like work, we read and respond to comments, and make sure to maintain a schedule for the challenges. Once again this is all CHOICE. No one is making us do this except ourselves, which is the beauty of it. And yes, I LOVE hosting Sunday Stills!
Even if you don’t host challenges, you engage with your blog on a schedule you’ve created. Perhaps you post daily, weekly, monthly…it’s YOUR choice!
Most of our blogging journey is filled with engagement with others both online and in real life. When possible, I make a point of connecting with my fellow bloggers during my travels.
“Make a commitment to having fun. See your best friends and make time for your hobbies and passions.” ~ Robert Holden
And once in a while, like a job, we take a break or vacation from our blog.
Blogging as serious leisure is still a hobby. But, your own perspective and opinion as a blogger is all that matters.
So hats off to all the bloggers out there who post at least once a week on a schedule and welcome to the club occupied by serious leisure participants.
Hobby or work? Once again, it’s your choice. I could go on and on sharing the definitions and research, but by now you get the picture.
Sharing for Marsha’s Wednesday Quotes: Literature & Media Inspire and Johnbo’s CellPic Sunday.
Sunday Stills Photo Challenge Reminders
The Sunday Stills weekly-themed photo challenge is easy to join. You have all week to share and link your post. If you choose to participate with a link to Sunday Stills, please take a moment to also leave me a comment on my post.
- Remember to title your blog post a little differently than mine.
- Please create a new post for the theme or link a recent one.
- Entries for this theme can be posted all week.
- Tag your post “Sunday Stills.”
- Don’t forget to create a pingback to this post so that other participants can read your post.
- I also recommend adding your post’s URL to the comments.
While we are traveling, I often read your posts via the mobile Jetpack app. I apologize in advance if I don’t get to your link to read right away, as often I encounter log-in difficulties through Jetpack on some blog sites. I also won’t include the round-up this week, due to travel and inconsistent internet. Please visit your fellow bloggers’ links in the comments section.
Don’t forget to join me for Sunday Stills next week as we explore the theme “February is Feed the Birds Month.” February themes are available on my Sunday Stills page.
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