OK, so that title was misleading, because now you think you're going to read yet another post on the Lord of the Rings (or some other type of fantasy fiction) from me, right? Yesterday, I said to my husband, "You know what I've just learned about myself? I have a lot of hobbies. Way too many hobbies. So many hobbies that many of them get put on the back burner to make room for new hobbies, and then make a reappearance once in a while. In fact, I have a wish list of hobbies that I want to take up once I have the time and money."
And he, knowing my penchant for anything LOTR said, "So you're saying you're a hobbit?"
Isn't he witty? What a funny play on words.
Anyway, as any avid reader of my blog knows, I have a lot of hobbies, which means I have a lot of unfinished projects. But I've started to notice a pattern this year: I have made a concerted effort to finish things I've previously left undone.
You know that stack of books you have on your nightstand that you've been working your way through for years, but in the meantime you've read a whole bunch of more entertaining books? This year I've made significant progress on them.
And even today, I pulled out a blanket I had begun knitting over two years ago and put a couple hours work into it.
I think having a lot of hobbies is good. I pride myself on having a lot of interests, of doing a lot of reading, of trying new things, and having the ability to do a lot of things (notice I leave out the word "well"). But I think there's a lot of value in finishing what you started, as well. It's about commitment and perseverance and getting back up after you fall. It's something I want to teach Audrey, so it's something I want her to see in me as well.
OK, so finishing a boring book or an ugly little afghan doesn't sound like a big deal. But it is to me.
So before I take up any new hobbies (my latest fascination is cupcake decorating - hence all the new items on my Amazon wish list), I'm making big efforts to tie up old projects. And because any post of mine wouldn't be the same without a list, here is my list of current hobbies/projects:
crocheting (toys, blankets, gifts, slippers, etc)
knitting (not the same thing as crocheting, believe me)
sewing (just a few small blankets, maybe a couple dolls, oh, and a little purse or two)
painting (Paper app on iPad, pottery)
writing (this blog, other blogs)
reading (pile of boring books, the infamous Summer Reading List, WoT, and my wonderful new subscription to Audible.com)
other various crafty things (see my Pinterest boards!)
walking (not sure if this counts as a hobby, but I do it every day and I realized my list was sounding very sedentary...)
(I wish I could still count many other things, but my time is otherwise spoken for. But as I said, the above is a current list. I'll make another list next year and it will be drastically different!)
All in all, I think that list shows that my husband is right: I am a hobbit!