I had always felt drawn towards art in
literature and in painting. Though I was not a prolific writer neither an avid
painter, I would scribble and sketch whenever I got time. Studies and work
always kept me busy. However, there was a time in my career where I found
myself at crossroads. I had to take a break, I could not go to work any
longer. While there were others like me who were clueless and empty, I found
satisfaction fiddling with my craft items. I made quillings designs. I made
newspaper articles like baskets. I aligned my quilling greeting cards on the
wall and painted glass bottles. I took to sketching and canvas painting too
which kept me very engrossed and busy. There was a sense of peace I got after
the completion of these works. A sense of being the creator.
But the most important thing I realized about
having a serious hobby is that it gives you an identity. It adds to your
self-image and also to your social identity. And it also says a lot about your
personality. For example, an artist, in general, is a reclusive person. He must
be calm and composed but not too much of a socially out going and practical
person. But that is not really a negative trait though. Artists are celebrated
all over the world. By choosing a hobby, you will actually be choosing the
qualities attached with it.
So now its time for a confession. Though my
'art' imparted to me the "peace-feelings" I mentioned before, it made
me cut myself from social contacts. The only way out was to teach these skills
to someone. But it also had me sitting for very long time and I realized how
sedentary my lifestyle was. I decided a change should happen. I thought of some
other hobby that should kick me out of my comfort level. I wanted to try
something that I had never done before or I was afraid of trying. It was
dance.
So now I enrolled in a dance class. The dance
hall had mirror on one entire side to watch yourself and others dance. I looked
at myself and at other girls. I had become really plump and passive. I found it
difficult to move or act quickly. I realized what I had missed all these years.
Dance makes you confident of your body. Your
posture improves. Your reflexes are strengthened and your stage fear decreases.
You learn the cues of team work. In other words, dance is no less than sports
when it comes to personality development. Plus, it is so much fun. In fact, it
is only fun. I learned to enjoy music more with dance and also to appreciate
each moment just like beats in dance. I've learnt to let my body move freely
without being conscious about grace all the time.
For fitness, it is better to engage in an
activity that requires the mind to act too. There is so much more to a hobby
then just winning prizes. People who have dance or sports as hobby are always
fit and age gracefully.
But you know what, my first love still remains
art. Somehow.. I feel that define me.
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