I play in a couple of tennis leagues, crochet, make soap and lotion, bake from scratch, and I used to play guitar every day but I haven't picked it up in a couple of years. I should bust that out again.
I garden all the time! Just about every day May through September. It's killing me to be sick right now. I swear I can see the weeds growing, and my to do list is HUGE. And in the off season, I exchange postcards on Postcrossing.
I also read and play board games. I also volunteered a lot last year but haven't gotten back into it yet.
And I bought a bought a bicycle and roller skates because I really want to have both as hobbies. Working on that but not there yet.
Fairy tales do not tell children the dragons exist. Children already know that dragons exist. Fairy tales tell children the dragons can be killed. - G. K. Chesterton
Fairy tales do not tell children the dragons exist. Children already know that dragons exist. Fairy tales tell children the dragons can be killed. - G. K. Chesterton
Here's a few more pages that I've used. Some more complicated than others, obviously. I recommend starting with the simpler designs. You can find a lot more for free online by just googling "mandala coloring pages" or "coloring pages".
ETA: I'm willing to e-mail the actual PDFs and DOCs to people if anyone cares to have them.
Mandalas are huge here. All the kids do them. I had no idea it was a "thing" The more you know.
I like to walk and de-clutter our house. I also have renewed my love of reading, esp. history and biographies. Recently, I've read books about dogs (we got a new dog after our beloved 15-yr-old basset died) and the Romanovs.
During Oscar season I make predictions and listen to podcasts. I also watch reality tv and read summaries on Fans of Reality Tv.
I should start being a foodie, but I just don't have any interest.
This is a legit thing! Active meditation is my favorite kind . I have a few mandala coloring pages I put together for students during finals week as a stress-reliever, and include this info on the back that I adapted from a few different sources:
"Can coloring really help me relax?
Coloring can be seen as a form of “active mediation”. Repetitive motions such as coloring help strengthen your focus and easily shift your attention back to a relaxed state. Stressful thoughts and future worries can be simply pushed aside as you take time to enjoy the present. As stress leaves the body, endorphins are released into the bloodstream allowing the feelings of anxiety and depression to fall away for a short period of time.
Healing Power of Mandalas
A mandala, which is Sanskrit for “circle” or “completion,” is an intricate, circular picture designed to be painted or colored. Most mandalas use symmetry to create a sense of balance that is very beneficial for the brain.
Step One: Start the session with a smile. Studies have shown that smiling, even when you are not happy, can raise the level of endorphins (mood enhancing chemicals) in your brain. So, start smiling!
Step Two: Pick a design that peaks your interest.
Step Three: Choose your first pencil, crayon, or marker and then begin to color. No need to over-think this, whenever possible let the colors chose themselves.
Step Four: Watch the design take life with every stroke. Allow yourself to experience the movements, hear the sounds of the pencils on paper, or feel the markers as they glide across the page. As thoughts or pictures pop into your head, simply acknowledge them and then return your focus to the coloring. With a little practice you will find it increasingly easy to get into a deeply relaxed state. "
This is a legit thing! Active meditation is my favorite kind . I have a few mandala coloring pages I put together for students during finals week as a stress-reliever, and include this info on the back that I adapted from a few different sources:
"Can coloring really help me relax?
Coloring can be seen as a form of “active mediation”. Repetitive motions such as coloring help strengthen your focus and easily shift your attention back to a relaxed state. Stressful thoughts and future worries can be simply pushed aside as you take time to enjoy the present. As stress leaves the body, endorphins are released into the bloodstream allowing the feelings of anxiety and depression to fall away for a short period of time.
Healing Power of Mandalas
A mandala, which is Sanskrit for “circle” or “completion,” is an intricate, circular picture designed to be painted or colored. Most mandalas use symmetry to create a sense of balance that is very beneficial for the brain.
Step One: Start the session with a smile. Studies have shown that smiling, even when you are not happy, can raise the level of endorphins (mood enhancing chemicals) in your brain. So, start smiling!
Step Two: Pick a design that peaks your interest.
Step Three: Choose your first pencil, crayon, or marker and then begin to color. No need to over-think this, whenever possible let the colors chose themselves.
Step Four: Watch the design take life with every stroke. Allow yourself to experience the movements, hear the sounds of the pencils on paper, or feel the markers as they glide across the page. As thoughts or pictures pop into your head, simply acknowledge them and then return your focus to the coloring. With a little practice you will find it increasingly easy to get into a deeply relaxed state. "
active meditation, I bet I can do that. I can't just do the sit still and breathe kind.
i used to stage manage at a community theatre but that stopped once i had G and we moved. i miss it so much.
photography.
baking things that i don't sell.
sadly, that's it for now.
I stage managed back in college, and very much thought about doing it professionally. I miss it too. I don't miss the company drama though! I could go the rest of my life without that. I have a few friends that do community theater, and when I hear their stories I realize that even once everyone grows up, there's still boatloads of who is sleeping with who, and production company politicking.
I like to color (shut up) - I buy these "adult" coloring books where you color in geometric designs and such, and it is very soothing.
Based on this post (and the f/u ones by bimbi w/ examples), I went out & bought some grown-up coloring books and spent an hour after the kids went to bed coloring. So soothing!
I would "color" my projects for school and sometimes work and always thought the calm that came over me was because I was almost done (rendering is last). Nope, it's the repeated movement!
i used to stage manage at a community theatre but that stopped once i had G and we moved. i miss it so much.
photography.
baking things that i don't sell.
sadly, that's it for now.
I stage managed back in college, and very much thought about doing it professionally. I miss it too. I don't miss the company drama though! I could go the rest of my life without that. I have a few friends that do community theater, and when I hear their stories I realize that even once everyone grows up, there's still boatloads of who is sleeping with who, and production company politicking.
i did it professionally and i had to quit. i fucking HATE actors. i can deal with the company crap but the actor egos are my undoing.
I stage managed back in college, and very much thought about doing it professionally. I miss it too. I don't miss the company drama though! I could go the rest of my life without that. I have a few friends that do community theater, and when I hear their stories I realize that even once everyone grows up, there's still boatloads of who is sleeping with who, and production company politicking.
i did it professionally and i had to quit. i fucking HATE actors. i can deal with the company crap but the actor egos are my undoing.
You mean they are not god's gift to all mankind? That the world does not revolve entirely around them?