Duke's Hobbies...
The hobbies we enjoy may actually do more to define us than what we do for a living. After all, all work and no play makes Duke a dull boy. What toys do I keep in the attic? Let's find out!
Okay, I'm a guy. That means I'm predisposed to like anything that makes wonderful noises and goes fast. Cars fall into that category neatly. While I love all sorts of different cars, friends and family will pull you aside and whisper of my unholy love for Volvos. New or old, big or small, there's just something about the way they're engineered and built that appeals to my soul. I've always maintained that the only people who don't like them are people who've never driven one. And no, there's no truth to the rumor that I'm part of a secret cult that worships the cars from Gothenburg, Sweden. No, really, I'm not. Move on, nothing here to see....
Another thing that goes fast and makes wonderful noises are motorcycles. That's not me in the picture, but I do have one of those bikes, a Suzuki Bandit 1250 S. They're very nice. I also have a slightly newer motorcycle that I don't talk about unless I'm asked because people get annoyed at me when I gush. I love my motorcycles so much that I commute on them daily, through some of the worst traffic on the planet (Los Angeles traffic isn't pretty, folks, and there's really no way to put lipstick on this particular pig). Riding one of my bikes gives me a calm, happy place I can go when I'm stressed and unhappy, and I always seem to come back happier than when I left. I have a small decorative pillow which reads, "You never see a motorcycle sitting outside a psychiatrist's office." I wouldn't know if it's true, because I've never been to one. Must be something to this art of meditation in motion.
Aircraft are also things which go fast and make lots of noise. I find I like this concept. I've never had the time (or, frankly, the funds) to become a pilot, but that doesn't mean I don't love to watch their grace in flight, or even ride in them when the occasion beckons. Maybe I'll get to be a pilot when I grow up some day. : )
Musical instruments don't go very fast at all, but they certainly do make some lovely noises. I've been playing various instruments since fourth grade, and firmly believe that those who do not play, sing, or otherwise do something musical are sadly impoverished in their souls. Even if all you can play is the radio, there is something about music that can free the mind and spirit, and allow them to take wing and fly freely. Yes, I do play the occasional guitar, but not half as often as I'd like.
Here's something that doesn't go anywhere at all, and rarely if ever makes any noise. Gardening is an interesting hobby, in that like music, you can create beauty and share it with others. Unlike music, gardens are a bit more permanent, and can be shared even when you're not around to perform. Tilling the soil is another soothing, calming pastime, and the fact I used to do it to help work my way through college just means I can do it at a fairly adept level, and enjoy what used to be work. Like an old car, gardens require regular maintenance, but reward the patient maintainer in many ways.
The list shown here is hardly complete. I enjoy so many things, such as having served on the Board of Directors for my Homeowners' Association for 23 years, or acting as a lay counselor in my church. We are given certain gifts, and it's up to us to find a way to use them, hopefully in a good and helpful way.