In the last several months people have been flooding the internet flaunting all they've accomplished while trapped in quarantine. Everyone seems to have either acquired a new hobby or become proficient in the one they had. And its always fascinating to find out how people fall into their time fillers. Heck, maybe we should all start something new and take notes, a ton of the people started with a small hobby to just steady their nerves and turned it into a million dollar business. Someone bring me some knitting needles.
Redditor u/lesothoqueen was fascinated by the ways everyone was inspired to fulfill their empty hours by asking aloud.... What got you interested in your hobby?Caliente...
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I started r/SalsaSnobs , which began from a trip to Mexico. I realized that most salsa in the USA is inferior. I was going to have to learn how to make my own.
Pretty much all the time the food is better at the source, the thing is making salsa isn't much of a regular or traditional thing in most western/English speaking nations. If you go to where it originated, its always better.
All the Buzzzz.....
I was teaching my daughter how to make jam from fresh fruits and was dismayed at how much sugar I was using. Did a little research and found out I can cut my sweetener in half by using honey.
Did a little more research into honey and realized keeping bees complimented by "mini homestead" and suddenly... I am a beekeeper!
Through the Music....
I was a weirdo through elementary and middle school and got treated like crap by all my classmates. Found punk rock in 7th grade and realized there were a bunch of other weirdos out there who found a home, so I started a band and discovered I didn't need anyone else's approval for who I was. That was 20 years ago and now I play in bands and write songs and don't suffer these insecurities of not being cool enough anymore.
Yeehaw!
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My bad knee. I love going fast and feeling the wind in my hair, however i could never run safely. So I started riding horses. Been doing it for over half my life now.
staying masculine....
My wife recently got into quilting. After watching her work, there's something extremely satisfying about making precise straight cuts and fitting pieces together to create something larger.
That said, I am far too macho to start quilting so instead I picked up leather craft. That way I can satisfy my need for creating something while also not jeopardizing my fragile masculinity.
A Whole New World.....
I started world building (writing a world and a story around it) after two small events.
First, I had this really cool dream where I was playing as this grey, horned character who held two enchanted swords fighting against people who looked like this man. Just a sea of grey horned soldiers fighting a war and attacking me.
Second I began to think about what my "ideal," Hell would be. I recalled the stories of Hell being a disorderly place and having seven princes that each ruled over a sin. Put two and two together and I'm thinking about people who are forced into kingdoms with unending wars for supreme power over all.
The Midnight Sky....
I went to the dark sky reserve in Idaho and was flabbergasted at the number of stars, the infinite depth, and the visibility for the Milky Way (I'm a city girl). When I got home, I started searching for pictures and was exposed to night sky photography. I couldn't believe how people were able to capture the majesty, and I knew I had to take those pictures myself. I just went back to Idaho this summer to take my first Milky Way photos!
the scroll....
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Scrolling through reddit, and posting random comments on random posts, so strangers can read them and go "well that was strange" and then move on with their day.
All the Colors....
I had a party at my house and some artists showed up with some supplies. During the party they sat outside and would occasionally corral guests into painting a few lines. At the end of the party I had an interesting bit of art, which I still have to this day. I thought that it would be relaxing to paint. Turns out I was right. Eight years later and I've developed an adult hobby that will hopefully improve with time... plus, I REALLY enjoy it.
Wish I knew who those people were so I could thank them.
Amazing....
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I liked the art on Magic: The Gathering cards as a kid and just kept collecting them. Then, in high school, I saw some people playing and I was like "I have some of those!" So I got them to teach me. Been playing ever since.
In Chalk
After being taught how to write properly my mother taught me how to draw but it wasn't until the show chalk zone that made me wanna expand my love for drawing and imagination.
Chalkzone was so great. I loved the creativity and imagination that went into it.
The Debate
Listen To Me Shut Up GIF by Creative Courage
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Researching and debating flat earthers led me to researching more and more about space, and so now I'm an avid astronomer, and I love learning about stars, nebula and planets.
Obsessed
Youtube videos. I had seen tons of downhill mountain bike videos and my friends were starting to get into mountain biking and wanted me to go, for months I declined and said I would go with them if they tried a downhill park. We went one time and that was it, I was hooked.
Hey Pops....
Me visiting my great grandpa, here would always be in his garage making gun barrels, ammo. He would always show me his guns and how to handle them. Now since he passed I inherited them and shooting is one of my main hobbies.
Hobbies
Chilling Video Games GIF by DC Comics
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Depends on the hobby. I got into blacksmithing because of videogames. I got into videogames cause I grew up in the 80's & 90's.
With the boys....
I was 14 and my older brother had bought a CB 500 with a blown motor. He hadn't done anything with it in a year so my dad told me if I could get it running I could ride it.
Tore the entire thing apart and rebuilt it with some help from dad. Rode it for years. Sold it to buy a CBR 600 RR which I regret now but the places that CBR took me.
I also grew up in the garage with all my brothers and dad. I think we probably spent more time there than in the house.
the keys
8 years old:
Dadida, dadidadida, mashing piano keys... Oh what's that
12 years old
Wait, i can play (insert Favorite song) with this?!? I gotta try that.
14 years old
Hey, wait, i can actually play anything on this!!! Omg!!! I'll Start practicing!
6 years wasted, but i eventually did it.
Now i play anything from moonlight sonata to allstar.
Damn YouTube
For me its building scale models. A Model Building video popped up in my YouTube feed. I watched it, and the guy doing it was incredible. I immediately wanted to try it. Cut to a year later and I have a couple airbrushes and tons of paints and weathering products.
Free hand
I was watching someone draw at school in fourth grade, I wanted to free hand but sucked. So i traced, then started copying it but not tracing, then i decided to free hand. Im not the best but i can do some decent stuff.
I actually want to start drawing to express myself in a way. But my mind refuses it due to trying to achieve "Perfection". It's like avoiding drawing, as it won't be any good either way. Sounds stupid, I know...
BBQ Style
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I live in Texas but was raised on Memphis style BBQ. I could never find a pulled pork sandwich that was worth eating where I live. Halfway through quarantine lifestyle I finally bought a smoker so I can make BBQ the way I like it. It's been great spending time outside and learning different BBQ styles and techniques.
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Redditor Doctor_Disaster asked:
"What is something that you have purchased in the past, but have never used once since then?"
Never Gonna Make That Telescope
"On a trip to Chicago at about age 14 to visit the museums, my parents bought for me a telescope mirror grinding kit from the Adler Planetarium which I desperately wanted. It had all the components needed to construct a 6" mirror for a beautiful reflector scope. I kept that kit until I was about 50 years old, moving from apartment to apartment and city to city, until I finally decided I probably just wasn't gonna make that telescope."
-konqueror321
You Probably Don't Need The Book
"College textbooks, as a freshman you think you need them but it’s a scam most of the time. Just get the pdf online tbh. I’ve even had professors that strongly hint at a textbook being available online and for students not to buy it."
-vanynoose
"I had a professor complaining and complaining that a mass anonymous email went out to all his students with a pdf of the text book. He just kept asking if 'everyone saw it and how terrible it was… but everyone saw it right? Everyone… did anyone miss it or not get it… that terrible anonymous email sent too ALL of his students got'"
"He was a good dude lol."
One Day...
"I bought a book on methods to tackle procrastination, 7 years ago. It remains unread though I’m sure the methods within are glorious."
-PhotoKaz
"On page 1 it just says, 'Congratulations! You have taken the first step towards conquering procrastination! Now just keep taking one step at a time!' Or some other cheesy stuff like that."
-tiredoflife2212
Bye Bye Bicycle
"Not me but my dad - bought a bicycle he never used, a year rolled by and the shop he bought it from called him and asked if he wanted it serviced, to which he agreed. Still hadn’t used it. I went to his place one day and saw the bike and asked if I can borrow it. He then tells me this story and said I can have it. Thanks dad!"
-WallyButterbean
Aspiring Artist
"I bought a wacom pad like a year ago cause i wanted to start drawing. Never got around to start learning."
-LordofthePigeons619
"You know, I got one to use as a mouse. I know that sounds crazy, but I was starting to get some RSI in my hand from constant mouse use at work and home."
"No lie - once I got over the first 24 hours of it being awkward as a daily pointing device, I quickly realized that I by far preferred using it to the alternatives. When you're over the learning curve it starts to feel so much more precise. It always got me funny looks and questions when co-workers stopped by my desk, since my roles never had anything to do with illustration or design."
"Absolutely useless for anything game related, mind you. But day to day document/office/browser/other stuff? Super useful. Maybe give it a try."
-infosec_qs
Time For A Game Night
film opening GIFGiphy"*Looks at the shelves of unplayed board games*"
-Mortlach78
"One day, the perfect group of people will be assembled in your house and ready to play that game... Until that day it sits on the shelf awaiting its time."
-silentknight111
Forever Disorganized
"Containers to get myself organised. Months ago. And now I’m on reddit. Not being organised."
-ReaganInc
"At least now, when you someday get the urge to organize your stuff, you will have the containers ready & be able to just do it."
-batsofburden
You Mean You're Not Supposed To Just Collect Them?
"I'd like to introduce you to my steam library."
-Fynn_the_Finger
"Me: there are no games to play."
"Steam library: *sad game noises*"
-SeparateBluejay9818
Banger Banjo
Sloth Banjo GIFGiphy"When I got my job back in April after a 3 year attempt at freelancing, my first pay check was the most exciting."
"I bought a banjo. I'm a city boy in the UK. I have no idea how to play instruments."
"To this day it stays in the corner of my room getting an occasional twang when I get a little spicy."
-schofield101
Yarn Hoard
"Yarn, so much yarn."
-erabera
"Yes, I am more a yarn collector than a knitter."
-shinyacorns
It's not too late to use that thing you bought forever ago and forgot about. It's never too late to pick up that hobby or read that book!
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