I’m always impressed when people prioritise their hobbies and their passions and are non-negotiable on having time to do the things they love. Though it can be frustrating at times, Tom is definitely one of those people. Because he loves surfing, he will willingly get up at 5am in sleet, snow or torrential rain to go out if the surf is good, he won’t live further than ten minutes from a beach with consistent surf, and he won’t even commit or sign up to doing other activities because he doesn’t want to be tied to something and miss an opportunity to surf. I think a lot of us compromise on our passions because we don’t want to be selfish, or because other things bump up the priority list – adult life and all of its demands and pressures sneak up on us and pull us away from doing the things we love.
My word for the year was ‘balance’, and I want to stay true to that intention to achieve balance in my life. Part of finding balance is ensuring I have enough time for self-care, and for pursuing the things that make me happy. I’ve been trying to record via a ‘happy list’ one thing every day that has made me happy, and one thing that has made me feel inspired and I’m seeing a lot of themes come up. One of those is yoga, and having time every day to move, stretch and have a bit of ‘calm’. Another of those is anything creative – I definitely feel happier on days when I’ve taken the opportunity to write poetry, read something inspiring or write a blog post.
With this in mind, I’ve tried to make more opportunities to get out and about with my new camera, and seize moments where I can to make room for my passions and hobbies. I was working out of my previous workplace the week before last and that office is on the seafront at Highcliffe, so I took my camera along and went for a walk on my lunch break. It was so nice to have a bit of sea air and blow the cobwebs away – it really felt like a proper break from work.
Lots of other people had also seized the opportunity for a lunchtime amble, and were meandering along the promenade in the sunshine. Sandy dogs shook off sand and droplets of seawater, racing into the surf after sticks or to go for a paddle. Seagulls hovered overhead, eyeing bags of salty chips being consumed at the beachfront café and swooping for discarded scraps. At the café, mugs of hot chocolate emitted steam into the chilly February air – metal chairs placed overlooking the seafront were full of people poring over newspapers, or simply watching the world go by. The brightly coloured beach huts were largely boarded up for the winter, but a few enthusiastic people sat in deckchairs inside; braving the cold with a cup of tea and a book, watching the waves roll onto the beach.
The tide relentlessly crashes onto the shoreline, crested waves roaring, curling and splashing onto the beach. Pebbles and stones swirl in the surge of water, leaving patterns of colour as they disappear underneath. Curious seagulls locate fish and other scraps uncovered by the surge of water. Their feet patter along the shoreline, leaving tiny imprints in the sand.
What a lovely lunchtime walk – and the perfect way to seize the opportunity of a sunny day and a new gadget.
How do you make sure you prioritise your passions and hobbies?
Currently listening to // Luke Pickett – And Asleep I am Your Everything