7 Questions to Discover a Hobby You Love

Yesterday I met dear daughter, Lauren, for over peanut butter pancakes at Snooze. We talked, caught up and then she told me, “I finally got a drone.” I couldn’t be happier because for months, maybe years now, I’ve urged Lauren to pick up a hobby. Something she does just for herself.

A little about Lauren … she is in her early thirties and over the last decade has taken her business from a start-up little something to a business that supports her family. I’m ridiculously proud of her. But I’ve also seen how working so hard at her business and being a wife and mom doesn’t fill the tiny empty spot of doing something for nothing other than the pleasure of just doing it. So now that she finally she decided to dive into drone photography, I’m excited to see how it impacts her feelings about her work and life and roles.

You might be thinking, I don’t have time.

If you feel low on time, I encourage you to renew a practice of Sabbath. Take one or two Sundays to do absolutely nothing. See what interests pop up when you have the luxury of space and time to just relax. Let Sabbath remind you of your daughter-ness

Many of us who have found ourselves to be useful in Christian service have found ourselves unable, if we’re honest, to connect with God any other way. We do for him, instead of being with him. We become soldiers, instead of brothers and sisters and daughters and sons. This is dangerous, damaging territory, and I’ve spent too much time there. These days, I’m relearning daughter-ness, and I find it most through silence and nature. ~ Shauna Niequist

Or maybe you feel like you don’t have money to do what you really love.

When I was thirty years old, Will gifted me with a private riding lesson. I’m sure he had no idea it would ballon into what it’s become (I now have a horse of my own) but I’m truly grateful. I joke that my riding keeps me out of the therapist office but in a lot of ways, I actually believe it’s true. All I can say is riding horses on a pastor’s salary didn’t make sense but when we prioritized it as vital to my emotional health, we made it work.

In one season, I worked at the barn to help with the bill. In another, I taught drama part-time. We just worked it out so that I could keep riding. Not only that but added benefit … my girls rode with me too. And that was utter joy. All these photos are my Sara with a lovely horse named Kinetic that we rode for eight years.

What do you love to do?

That’s the real question so here are a few to help you discover a hobby:

What did you love to do when you were a child?
What is something you love to do that makes you lose track of time?
What do you love doing that makes you to brave bad weather or a chaotic schedule?
Where do you find yourself when you have a pocket of free time? What are you doing there?
If you were to plan a girl’s weekend away, what’s the one thing you’d want to do?
What do you wish you were better at (not work-related) and why?
What are five things you’d love to try?

The most helpful way to discover the answers is to sit down with a friend and both of you write out the answers, then talk about them. Or if you have a spiritual mama, invite her to have pancakes at Snooze and talk it out. ;)

All photos: Kate Stafford Photography

PS> Kate’s business started as a hobby years ago … isn’t that the greatest?!