12.6.2023
Ruthlessly Intentional
This is the main question, with what activity one's leisure is filled.
~ Aristotle
Our hobbies often become our habits, our habits become routines, our routines develop our skills.
Not only that, our hobbies are often the physical and mental practices that allow us to take solace from the stresses of our fast paced world. They are the timeless remedies that form the basis for wellness, vigor, and longevity. They demand our attention and allow us a break from the world.
When most think of “leisure,” we think of doing nothing. In Greek, “leisure” simply meant freedom from the work needed to survive, a healthy outlet for a physical practice, for intellectual thinking, and creative pursuits. As the Greeks put it, leisure is a time for focus and self improvement; a time to find moments of stillness, but also a time for learning, study, and the pursuit of higher things.
Without these windows of leisure, without productive hobbies, we miss opportunities to learn invaluable life lessons—lessons in patience, persistence, and doing your best. At their core, our hobbies are the foundation for skill acquisition; they are the tools needed for the inevitable troubles ahead and make us more formidable.
So begin to ask yourself the uncomfortable questions. Where are you falling short?
