Since around 1996, I’ve accumulated a rather varied collection of hobbies and interests. Some have grown into small businesses, some have stayed hobbies, and others have quietly fallen by the wayside.
Most of them come from the same source: I’m a creative type, and my brain is nearly always in high gear. I’m forever thinking of something new to learn, a project to try, a way to keep myself occupied or perhaps a creative way to earn a bit of money.
Until the middle of 2025, many of those ideas had a practical purpose. I wanted to help support my family, so an interest could easily turn into a possible business or another source of income. These days, my circumstances have changed, and I’m looking at my interests a little differently.
I’m not giving up on the things I’ve wanted to do. I’m simply working out which ones matter most, what I can realistically afford in time and money, and when I might get around to them. Some can move up the list; others will have to wait.
So this article is a look back at the hobbies I’ve enjoyed, the projects I’ve started and the ideas I’ve explored. It’s also a look ahead at what I might do next. The creative part of me hasn’t gone anywhere. I’m just learning to make room for the things I want to do for my own enjoyment and future, rather than feeling every idea has to earn its keep.
Thank you for reading this far – yet there is more!
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