You were never “too busy” for this.
The thing you stopped doing might be the thing that brings you back.
Hi, hope you’re doing well. Sunday morning here in Vermont, back from Montana. Heart is full from being out west. Long talks, adventuring with curious kids, and purple sunsets. You’re reading The Bright Side. And we’re excited to be coming to you every week with a dose of calm and clarity in a noisy world.
The lost art of interesting lives
The other night, I was at my sister’s house, curled up in the living room post-dinner, talking about the difference between interests and hobbies. How they show up in our lives.
We agreed that as work and life got fuller, time for playing, exploring, learning…slips away.
And when enough time passes, you can forget what used to light you up.
I was struck by this in a conversation with a friend who recently retired.
He admitted not knowing exactly what to do (or where to go) with his time. A highly creative person, who dedicated decades to a successful career and the rhythms of routine.
That moment landed. Because that blank space, a wide-open canvas…should feel thrilling.
But for too many people, it feels disorienting.
And then there was our Mom. No career beyond raising us, but her days were full. She was fun, social, curious and engaged in the world:
A scrappy catering business (where we were the unpaid staff)...
Stained glass and tumbled rocks in the basement
Rabbits in the shed we were supposed to feed before school…
Oh, and she was a clown. For real. Red nose, rainbow wig, balloon animals.
She’d visit nursing homes and light people up. She brought us too. It was kind of quirky, a true expression of purpose…and bursting with life.
Here’s what hit me:
You don’t “stumble” into that kind of life. Screens, checking Slack and YouTube are too tempting.
Instead, you build it. Deliberately. One choice at a time.
That night, I felt grateful for the childhood I had…
And even more committed to living an interesting life now.
Your favorite hobby. A quiet rebellion.
Hobbies are more than something you “do.”
They’re a rebellion against the pressure to be productive. To monetize.
Because you do them for the sake of doing them. That’s…literally…it.
So, what’s a hobby you used to love but let go of along the way?
Maybe you used to:
Get your hands dirty in the garden…
Learn card tricks and surprise your friends…
Buy the toughest Lego set and chip away at it for weeks…
But then life got busy. Something shifted.
You moved. Changed jobs. You started (or ended) a relationship.
And that little window of joy? It got replaced by to-do-lists, meetings and expectations.
And yet, here’s the secret: That hobby wasn’t just “fun.” It was medicine.
An antidote to breaking news. To feeling like you’re not “far along” enough.
(Harvard research found people with hobbies are happier and more fulfilled.)
Because few things are sadder than asking: “What do you do for fun?” and hearing “nothing.”
On that note, watch how three brothers found their ‘quiet rebellion’ and reconnected by diving into nature’s wild embrace. Also, honoring a grandmother who showed them how beautiful the natural world is.
Try this (even for 10 minutes)
2. Don’t overthink it. Just pick it and go.
3. Notice how you feel. Before, during, after.
Because not everything needs to lead somewhere. Some things matter simply because they bring you back to yourself.
Your hobby is never a “waste” of time. It’s how you remember who you are.
And maybe that’s the deepest kind of productivity:
Using our most precious resource, our time, on something that lights us up. And not making it a “means” to some end (like a side hustle), but the end itself.
Until next time,
Kate
P.S. 1—I highly recommend a conversation with friends and family about this, a very interesting topic! And, 2—I'd really love to hear what's on your list! Reply and tell me...
