Does He Have Any Hobbies?

 A former high school teacher’s simple question made me pause and think about what hobbies really mean. In a busy life filled with work, family, a dog, and a daily blog, perhaps a hobby is not always something grand. Sometimes it is simply the thing that lets us breathe a little.

Last weekend, one of my former high school teachers came to visit our home.

He is a semi-professional potter. He used to fire his works in his own kiln, but after his house deep in the mountains was damaged by a natural disaster, he now uses a borrowed kiln.

Some time ago, when I met him at a class reunion, I had asked him to make some plates for me. They were finally finished, and he kindly brought them all the way to my house.

Unfortunately, I was away at a conference that day, but the weather was fine, and I heard that he spent about an hour relaxing on our balcony before leaving.

At that time, he apparently asked, with some concern, “Colo-ken seems terribly busy these days. Does he have any hobbies?”

The word “hobby” covers a surprisingly wide range.

When I looked it up again online, I found that a hobby is generally defined as something a person does voluntarily for enjoyment, not as work or a profession. It can also refer to a person’s taste, preference, or sense of what is beautiful or interesting.

In this case, I think my teacher meant the former.

Some people say, “My work is my hobby.” Others turn a hobby into a profession and become professionals.

When you think about it that way, it is not easy to draw a strict line between work and hobby.

When I have to write hobbies in a profile, I usually list gardening, dogs, blogging, reading, and listening to music.

In the past, I also wrote basketball, but I have since removed it.

As for reading, I have hardly been reading books lately, so perhaps I should remove that as well.

Listening to music is also questionable. I go to concerts maybe once a year, if that.

When I think about it, the number of things I can confidently call hobbies has become rather small.

Gardening is mostly just a little bit of weekend work with soil.

Walking the dog is also mainly a weekend activity.

I write my blog every day, but to be honest, I am not entirely sure whether keeping a diary can be called a hobby.

I think my teacher was worried about whether I had any time to relax through a hobby.

In that sense, does writing down my thoughts like this on my blog help me relax?

I am not sure.

Still, it does not feel bad to write while imagining that someone, somewhere, may be reading my words.

So perhaps this is something I can proudly call a hobby after all.

Perhaps a hobby does not need to be impressive; it only needs to be something that quietly keeps us connected to ourselves. 

・・・

former
English definition: Something or someone that belonged to an earlier time or previous role.
日本語訳：以前の、かつての。

semi-professional
English definition: Someone who does an activity at a very high level, but not fully as a main profession.
日本語訳：セミプロの、専門家に近い水準の。

potter
English definition: A person who makes pottery, such as bowls, plates, and cups, from clay.
日本語訳：陶芸家。

kiln
English definition: A special oven used for baking clay objects at high temperatures.
日本語訳：窯。

natural disaster
English definition: A major harmful event caused by nature, such as an earthquake, flood, or landslide.
日本語訳：自然災害。

class reunion
English definition: A gathering of former classmates, often many years after graduation.
日本語訳：同窓会。

with some concern
English definition: In a way that shows worry or care about someone.
日本語訳：心配そうに、気遣いながら。

draw a strict line
English definition: To make a clear distinction between two things.
日本語訳：はっきり線引きする。

confidently call
English definition: To describe something with certainty and without hesitation.
日本語訳：自信を持ってそう呼ぶ。

to be honest
English definition: A phrase used before saying what one really thinks or feels.
日本語訳：正直に言うと。

not entirely sure
English definition: Not completely certain about something.
日本語訳：完全には確信が持てない。

after all
English definition: Used when reaching a conclusion after thinking about something again.
日本語訳：結局のところ、やはり。