Activities for a Rewarding Life
ne of the most common reprimands my Mother gave me as a child was, “slow down!” I don’t think I run around knocking stuff over as much now, but my activities momentum is largely undiminished.
I’ve been a musician for some time and rarely find myself without a band. The camaraderie, the composition, the performances, I can’t imagine myself without these activities. Plus, it provides a pretty decent ego boost.
I somehow became an actor maybe 8 years ago, and that’s one kind of fun. Strangely, I frequently find myself being typecast as an architect, but whatever. Getting on camera and interacting with others as someone that isn’t you is a real, and valuable, trip. It’s also fun to see your friends’ faces after they come back from a movie that has you in the previews.
Farming became a thing for me recently, and I can’t speak highly enough of it. And these aren’t financially sound activities, oh no. We are reclaiming the land as we go, just as we’re planting crops we don’t know will grow. That kind of hands-on experimentation is immensely rewarding, and it’s great exercise to boot. And then there are the goats.
Typesetting and calligraphy have always been an interest of mine. I also develop ciphers to implement into my works, and I’m actually quite proud of the progress I’ve made there. It’s almost certainly a practically meaningless pursuit, but is excellent for expanding your mind.
There are many more such activities I get myself involved in. Cycling, web design, hiking, urbex, and the like. I’m not good at any of them, and, to be honest, I can’t count the number of times I’ve nearly killed myself. But I wouldn’t have it any other way – the world’s out there to be explored!
That’s Not the Point
hile it might sound like I’m some hardcore, survivalist outdoorsman, I assure you, I’m not. I’m garbage at most of these activities and but for the universe deeming it not yet my time, have stared death in the eyes more often than I’d like to admit.
Nor am I an adrenaline junkie. To be honest, most of the time I find myself in these situations, I’m scared shitless.
So why engage in all of these activities? 2 reasons: proving to yourself you can do it, and solidarity. In a world as crazy and frequently disappointing as the one we all inhabit, engaging in activities that force you to confront your own weaknesses and anxieties together with others is one helluva way to boost your spirits and remind yourself that you’ve got backup.