[DoctorEldritch]

Hello Legion Gamers!

Yesterday we announced the theme of this month: hobbies and arts! And to start off, here is an interesting theory: there is a school of thought that suggests that, for a balanced life, it is best to try and have 5 different hobbies, one for each underlying reason. Take a look!



The idea is that different hobbies connect to different areas of personal growth, so best to have variety with them.

For example, the simplest one would be hobbies that keep you in shape, and those can include any sports ar other physical activities, such as hiking or cycling. In my New Year's Resolutions, I promised myself to do more swimming this year, will see how it goes. But I like to walk and hike when I can, so I have this one covered. And @Saka has kendo, so can tick that one off too. Maybe someone else does other physical hobbies? Sports in games does not count!..or does it?

Then there are creative hobbies that are connected to anything creative, and it is important to do something creative on a regular or semi-regular basis indeed. Painting, sculpting, and even writing would fit nicely here. @Saka, I remember you did that lovely drawing in our Polish Community for @Aaricia, how often do you draw?

And let's not forget knowledge-building hobbies, those that help you to learn new things. Reading, learning an instrument or a new language, and even programming fits here. Sadly, apart from reading, I do not seem to have much going on for me here. But @thecorf and @Kubert may have this covered this upcoming year, hopefully. For the rest of us, there are crosswords and word games and sudokus.

There are also elusive mindset-evolving hobbies, the ones that help you to see the world differently or from a new perspective. The hobbies from other groups can fit here too, for example, photography is both creative and, at some level, helps you to look t the world differently, making you spot those nice angles and light for a better picture. Painting or architecture are like that, too. But also hobbies that make you more aware of the world, like @DracoTarot Tarot readings. I'd like to think that video games fit here too, otherwise I got nothing going for me. 😅

And hobbies to make money are simply ones that have the potential to be monetised. Blogging and influencing as a hobby fit here, but also anything that you may make, be it candles or soap or anything else that you make as a hobby but that others may want to buy. I got nothing, but I know @DracoTarot can tick this one off.

So yeah, there is a lot to be said about hobbies, though I am not sure if everyone would agree that the "5 hobbies" theory holds any water. Still, an interesting way to think about hobbies and whether you may need some new ones. Do you?

[DracoTarot]

@DoctorEldritch you hit the nail on the head. Things which would be difficult to find, describe, remember, or achieve would Heighten my interest. I would rather pursue the elusive mindset-evolving hobbies than the ordinary hobbies most people have.

One of my hobbies is indeed photography. The reason I recognize photography as a hobby is I would spend hours on a photo editing and deleting before uploading or showing it to someone.
Photography is considered a suitable hobby for a perfectionist like me as it involves several stages of my creativity.

Tarot cards are a hobby of mine for a few years now and the real reason I took an interest and made it a hobby to collect as many decks as possible is the creative side of things. There are so many beautiful designs incorporated into the decks. Also, the meanings of the divination parts are important to me. My Tarot hobby evolved into something more and took an interesting route. It helped me to practice mindfulness and review things that need to be done.

With all the power cuts we have I took it upon myself to do some crafts again. I stopped for a while and needed to release the creative side I'd locked up. Another hobby of mine is designing things and taking my ideas a bit further than others. I try to think more out of the box and some of my ideas may seem obscure but it's my way to express myself.

During December I build a cabinet for all my vape gear. Instead of using the same old designs, everyone seems to find eye-catching I thought why not design one that looks like a coffin? My mind was set on making one a coffin even if people thought it was dumb and weird. I wanted a vampire theme and the coffin was the first thing which came to mind. So I went forth and created one with all my leftover craft wood.

I also made a few fairy globes for my mum from old round furniture legs.

Blogging and becoming an influencer are one of my main hobbies at this moment. I'm looking forward to turning this hobby into something far greater.

To sum up, my hobbies are:

* Photography
* Arts and Crafts
* Tarot card collector
* Blogger and Influencer

I wouldn't say exercise isn't really a hobby for me but I do go to the gym twice a week. I'm also busy repainting my whole parents' house and am adding a few creative touches here and there.

Painting is hard work so I guess incorporating exercise and creativity into one could also be considered a hobby if you make it part of your daily routine. 😂

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@DoctorEldritch I do agree with the 5 listed hobbies and it makes sense. 😊

[DoctorEldritch]

@DracoTarot I would not say a coffin cabinet for vapes is that odd, I thought it was a pun on the "smoking kills" phrase. I remember you mentioning vapes being a healthier option, but as far as visual wordplay goes, I guess it works. And fits into your goth style too. Besides, with the world success of the Wednesday series, furniture like that may well become in fashion.

[DracoTarot]

@DoctorEldritch I was focused mainly on a gothic theme and my gear needed a long overdue stand or cabinet. Vapes are most definitely the healthier alternative and my design was based on some of the vapes I have. Paranormal, ghost mist, hell vape, and dead rabbit are to name a few. There's even Walking Dead juice available in many delicious flavours. 😂

Vapes are most definitely the healthier alternative and my intention is not "death by vape or smoking kills" It's all about the product and its theme!

Wednesday was enjoyable. Jenna Ortega played the role of Wednesday well! I still would have preferred Christina Ricci. Just my two cents. 😊

[DoctorEldritch]

@DracoTarot It is good to have practical skills and hobbies, like a carpenter or an electrician or a coder, ones that you can use to make stuff for yourself. (or others like in the case of @Saka mother-in-law with that awesome blanket). You remind me of Ron Swanson:

As for Wednesday, have not seen it yet. But if I were to make a guess, I'd say Ortega is 20 years old while Ricci is now over 40. Maybe even with makeup and digital edition, a bit too old to play a teenage girl?

[Saka]

@DoctorEldritch I didn't mention it earlier, but I can get free winter socks anytime I want. Sometimes they get very fancy designs, because the MIL asks me for an occasional challenge ("plain socks are boring" - more or less her words). I can post some pictures eventually. Since in Finland one walks without shoes indoors, the socks do wear out quicker than otherwise, so it's nice to have a reliable supply of cute socks.

(I wrote winter socks, because they are woolen socks. Sometimes I do wear them in the summer - colder day or when wearing trekking shoes, but warmer weather is usually barefoot time).

I've seen Wednesday series, I binge watched it in the post-Christmas lull. It was quite nice. But as you pointed out, the main character was played by a 20 year old, so was her room-mate. Some guys were played by people in late 20s. While they mostly pulled the acting off, sometimes they didn't act or look believable. The only real teen in the show was the beekeeper boy - and he indeed fit a teen.

The 40 year old actor could maybe play Wednesday later in life, but it'd be a different show then. Who knows, maybe one can be made?

I'll write later about my hobbies, need to give it a little consideration.

[DracoTarot]

@DoctorEldritch 😆. I don't think I'll go to such extreme measures to create something.

It makes sense using younger actors and agree Ricci would have been to old to play a teen role. What I meant was I would like to see Ricci being Wednesday and having a family of her own. A sort of new Adams family. Like @Saka mentioned maybe they'll make another series and she will then take the lead. I also agree with @Saka some characters were not very convincing.

[DoctorEldritch]

@Saka I get you about socks, I wear them in my country during winter too. My mother made them for me, but we do not really make new pairs, just mend the old ones.

I want to see Wednesday, but it is in the middle of my list. I want to watch the final season of His Dark Materials first.

[DoctorEldritch]

@DracoTarot Ron Swanson is a lifestyle icon character at this point.

I read that many people think Catherine Zeta-Jones did not quite get the essence and character of Morticia Addams in her portrayal. If you're in that camp, you could start a petition to replace her with Ricci (I know Ricci is in the series too, but oh well), that might have worked out better. I do not know why they did not do that from the start, Ricci would make a good Morticia and it would play on the actual "passing the torch/mother-daughter) undertone as well.

[Saka]

@DoctorEldritch I bring the socks in for mending too, but there's a limit to how much one can do. My kendo feet just tear their way through the sole eventually.