Self-help journal

Hobbies

Art!!

I never thought of myself as an artistic person. Not even a music person. But one day I picked up a guitar and just got the hang of it pretty quick. So I got some watercolours last year and I've been practising. I've even had people close and international asking to buy my art! It's a nice therapeutic hobby- and I seem to be making money from it too!

I'm a huge music fan, so I made some lyric sheets for my favourite songs:

Blankets of sorrow - Bear's Den

Empty Handed - Christof Van der ven

Be more kind - Frank Turner

I may not be that great, but it is an amazing therapy tool. Listening to some music and just painting, sometimes it comes naturally, yet I cannot draw a stick man to save my life.

Just think of what you enjoy- not what you're good at. You can be terrible but that doesn't matter if you enjoy it!

Write a book!
Write a song!
Draw a picture!
Play some music!

It's great to learn something and then you're able to show it off to everyone. You do feel a sense of pride- which is great for your self confidence!

You never know: you could draw a stick man and a family from Paraguay are begging to purchase your 'masterpiece'. (This didn't happen to me but it's an exaggeration...)

Writing is a great therapy idea... you can lose yourself in another world. Wait, maybe that's reading. I'm not much of a reader. Writing is great because... you can create your own world... with the 'perfect' characters and love interests.

But who wants perfect?

Is perfect even real?

Of course it isn't. (Yes, I answered my own rhetorical question).

We can't be perfect- we're human. We each have different 'flaws' which aren't flaws, just character perks. It makes us unique. For example I was told off when I was young for being unable to follow instructions- my anxiety just kicking in- worried about getting something wrong so I needed it repeating 10 times before I could ask a teacher for 3 sheets of paper and a chair. (Ok, that never happened- that I can remember- but the idea is there.) Or- this happened recently- being told a long passcode on a teachers printer. I was told it, I asked them to repeat the 5 digit code seven times before I was able to take the five step journey to type it in. I think that's part of my anxiety- it's always been there but flagged up as a proper issue once more new issues get added on top.

Anyway, I think I've gone off subject? Hobbies!!

Think you don't enjoy listening to music? Then you obviously haven't found the right genre yet.

I was never a music fan until 5 years ago- found my favourite band (Bear's Den) and haven't let go of my headphones ever since. There is definitely a genre out there for you- you just need to sit down- or lay down- get comfy and search through all the genres. Do you enjoy guitars? Pianos? Electrical music? (Don't know the special name).

If you insist you don't like music (I still don't believe you) then what about podcasts. Hearing someone else talking is great. Especially when you're feeling lonely. Some podcasts have more than one host so it's like you're in on their conversation. Or just one host and they're talking to you. Podcasts can be funny, informative, ted talks, music related or teach us things.

Finally learn a language! Podcasts can teach you. Or something a bit more interactive download an app. Learning languages is great- and also cool to show off!

Any other hobbies?

I'm going to do my favourite one right now which is sleep. It's almost midnight... I need to sort out my sleeping schedule.