Hobbies as a testing ground
At times I felt disillusioned with having “hobbies”.
Having hobbies felt more like an attempt to fill my time with something pleasant instead of an inherently meaningful pursuit that took hold of me (which I had experienced before).
I had the hunch that a life filled with a bunch of hobbies was a recipe for a wasted life. I was scratching the surface at best.
So I talked to my friend Mike about this and he had a clear answer.
Hobbies are a way to test something – to see how much you enjoy it, how much talent you have, and if you do want to become good at it.
Mike would try 2-3 hobbies a year until he eventually stumbled upon the things he was better at and more interested in than others. He then stuck with them for the following 15-20 years, became world-class in then, and they shaped his life.
He was quite clear: having hobbies isn’t the end goal, they're a path. Having hobbies is the way to find your passions that you eventually want to stick with.