Your hobby is more than just a way to have fun. Picking up a hobby has a variety of benefits, such as giving you a sense of self-efficacy, a creative outlet, and keeping your brain engaged. Hobbies can also give you something to look forward to and be passionate about. But more importantly, your hobbies can bless the lives of others.
Hobbies can be as diverse as gardening, cooking, writing, skydiving, stand up comedy and sewing just to name a few. And if you haven’t guessed the answer to the title of this article yet, here it is: You can use any of your hobbies to influence the world for good. And I believe that every hobby can be placed in at least one of these three categories – Teaching, Serving, and Giving.
Teaching
What hobbies do you have that you can teach to others? Some things may come naturally to you that don’t to others. Music, pickle ball, photography, and drawing are all examples of hobbies you can teach someone. In fact, the more I think about it, there isn’t a hobby that comes to mind that you couldn’t teach someone.
Serving
Sharing your talents and hobbies with others is a great way to be a righteous influence. How can you use your hobbies to serve others? If you enjoy cooking, you could make a bunch of freezer dinners and take them to neighbors in need. If you’re handy with a toolbox, maybe you could tackle a few simple projects for your friends. If you love hiking, take some amateurs to a new trail! Charity never faileth and you can use your hobbies to do so!
Giving
There are many hobbies you can use as a way to give to others. This is very similar with Serving, but I like to think of that as services you provide – and Giving as physical things you can give to others. My grandmother learned how to paint porcelain plates, bells, dolls, etc. in just the last few years of her life. She gave away almost everything she painted to her children, grandchildren, and close family and friends. She made our home beautiful and I continue to enjoy the fruits of her hobby, even though she’s been gone for 16 years! I love to bake and give treats to my neighbors. If you enjoy creating something you can give to others, that’s a great way to be an influence.
If you’re not sure you have a hobby that can influence the world, write down what you enjoy and try placing it in one of these three categories – Teaching, Serving, or Giving. There are an endless number of hobbies you can use to influence others. The world will be better for it.
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