Over the last few years, I have done little explorations through podcasts and YouTube and books into: baseball analytics then baseball scientific training, basketball coaching philosophy, investing in stocks, marathon running, and weightlifting.
Reflections on hobbies:
1. It is fascinating how these are all little circumscribed worlds. They have their experts and heroes. But 95% of people know almost nothing about the topic. Normal people can have a happy life and know nothing about this topic.
2. There is a mix of genuine fascinating new insights and artificial hyping of the same old things in these hobby worlds. When I am new to the topic, I'm astounded at how much I didn't know. But as time goes on, I hear the same assertions repeated over and over.
3. Honest moments eventually pop up in podcasts where the host admits their disillusionment or boredom with the absurd repetitive focus on this topic. "We always talk about this and let's face it, it's a waste of time." Even the expert admits this topic is not that important.
4. Other friends get into other hobbies and interests: cooking, interior design, knitting, fantasy football, golf, biking, travel. Others watch many TV shows. (When you have young kids, they often take that hobby time until they're in middle school and want their own time).
5. Morally,
(a) I think there is learning here in hobbies and it can be used for good, to help others, children, etc. Some of these within moderation can be defended as prudent (financial stewardship, physical health) but often the pursuit is far beyond minimal responsibleness.
Or (b) it may be mostly harmless, a balm, relaxing, healthy. Most businesses and hobbies are not altruistic but are on net a positive outgrowth of human curiosity and physicality and creativity. I don't think we should be overly critical of humans being human.
But (c) there is also some line at which an interest has the effect of being a destructive addiction, harmful to loved ones. Not just wine and gambling but any of these pursuits can be pursued to the extent that there is not time or money for those who need us.
6. For me, I've thoroughly enjoyed these jaunts into these areas of human culture and learning and practice. I'm amazed at the learning and ingenuity. But eventually I come to see that at some point it is unwise to spend more time on this relatively insignificant area.
I realize I need to grow and learn in other areas or use my time and money in ways that are more useful and loving. So I stop listening to those podcasts and those YouTube videos and read some more books of substance or pursue things of more benefit to those around me.
But I still take pleasure in those old areas when they come across my path because I now know something about them. It is a joy when I can comprehend something because I delved into the area a bit in the past. And I may even dip my toe back in to see if there's something new.
I don't view it as having had too many interests that I somehow couldn't follow through with. But rather that I intentionally stepped back from that interest because it was not worth so much time and money. Hopefully the learning from that pursuit spills over into other areas.
In conclusion, I think hobbies, interests, things that strike your fancy, areas you get fascinated by, are a wonderful part of life. You're human and it is healthy to have interests. But is also wise and good to change course and say "that has taken enough money and time."
Final thought: The good life is not just discipline and perseverance and grit and deliberate practice but also curiosity, exploration, learning, and moving on to other things richer than you were before because you learned something about that esoteric topic.
Originally tweeted by Andy Rowell (@AndyRowell) on January 4, 2022.
