How many hobbies do you have?

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100 Goals Club is a complimentary newsletter that specializes in helping you plan your life goals in 10 important areas.

1. Personal Development

2. Health and Fitness

3. Family and Friends

4. Hobbies and Passions

5. Financial

6. Career

7. Adventure

8. Travel

9. Lifestyle

10. Leaving a Legacy / Giving Back

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Quotes

"To be really happy and really safe, one ought to have at least two or three hobbies, and they must all be real." — Winston Churchill - From Thoughts and Adventures (1932). Churchill, a statesman and avid painter, underscores hobbies as anchors for happiness and security.

"It is in our leisure hours that we are permitted to follow our ‘hobbies,’ and it is in them that our truer selves find expression." — John Stuart Mill - Adapted from Mill’s philosophical writings on individuality (On Liberty, 1859). The economist and thinker saw hobbies as outlets for authentic self-discovery.

"The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle." — Steve Jobs. - From his 2005 Stanford commencement address. Jobs ties passion—often found in hobbies—to meaningful achievement.

"You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have". — Maya Angelou - From a 2013 interview with The Daily Beast. Angelou, a poet and memoirist, champions hobbies as wellsprings of endless inspiration.

"It can be coins or sports or politics or horses or music or faith… the saddest people I’ve ever met in life are the ones who don’t care deeply about anything at all." — Nicholas Sparks - From Dear John (2006). The novelist links hobbies to passion and lasting satisfaction.

"Today is life—the only life you are sure of. Make the most of today. Get interested in something. Shake yourself awake. Develop a hobby. Let the winds of enthusiasm sweep through you." — Dale Carnegie - From How to Win Friends and Influence People (1936). Carnegie, a self-help pioneer, frames hobbies as vital sparks for an enthusiastic, goal-driven life.

Why do so few people have hobbies?

First up, priority. Life’s a juggling act—work, family, that side hustle you swear will take off—and hobbies? They’re the ball we drop. We tell ourselves, “I’ll paint that canvas or learn guitar when I have time.” Spoiler: that time never comes unless we make it. Hobbies aren’t urgent, so they don’t scream for attention like a deadline. But here’s the kicker: they’re vital. Winston Churchill nailed it: “To be really happy and really safe, one ought to have at least two or three hobbies, and they must all be real.” They’re not fluff—they’re fuel.

Then there’s the awareness gap. Too many of us don’t realize hobbies are more than downtime—they’re lifelines. We’re wired to think productivity equals worth, so we grind away, missing how a hobby like photography or hiking can recharge us. Steve Jobs said, “The only way to do great work is to love what you do.” Hobbies spark that love, yet we overlook their power to make us better at everything else.

Career obsession’s another biggie. We live to work, not work to live. That 60-hour week leaves zero room for crafting or kayaking. Society cheers the hustle, but as Nicholas Sparks warned, “The saddest people I’ve ever met in life are the ones who don’t care deeply about anything at all.” Burnout’s real, folks—hobbies are the antidote.

And let’s be honest: some of us just don’t know where to start. Maybe we’ve forgotten what lights us up, or we’re scared to suck at something new. But here’s the truth—hobbies aren’t about mastery; they’re about joy. Dale Carnegie put it perfectly: “Develop a hobby. Let the winds of enthusiasm sweep through you.”

While it's good to have many hobbies, its not the quantity of hobbies that counts, its the quality of hobby. I'd rather have one or two hobbies that give me true joy, than four or five hobbies that are just occasional past times.

While you might tell yourself you'll find your hobbies when you retire, it's much better to have developed your hobbies and passions well before you get there. Whether you're 20, 30, 40, 50 or older, set a goal to discover and nurture your hobby this year.

So, goal-getters, it’s time to shift gears. Prioritize that pottery class. See the magic in strumming a chord. Your career won’t collapse if you carve out an hour for you. At 100GoalsClub.com, we say life’s too short to just work—hobby up and live it loud! What’s your next play? Drop me a reply —I’m cheering you on!

Check out my website to read more about this important goal . . .

https://www.100goalsclub.com/life-goals-hobbies-and-passions.html

Our new hobby!

A couple of years ago, Kathy and I wrote down a goal as part of our annual goal setting process at the end of the prior year, where we decided on signing up for a fun sport which we could do together during our retirement years, with both social and physical aspects to keep us healthy and engaged. While there was a lapse in achieving this goal, in January 2025 we signed up for a 12 week introductory Pickleball course at our municipal community centre. We recently just completed the course and have signed up for the next one!

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Why Pickleball’s Winning Hearts!

After this 12-week introductory course, we’re hooked—and we’re not alone. This sport’s exploding, and it’s no mystery why so many are picking it up as their go-to hobby. Here’s why it’s a game-changer, straight from our retirement playbook.

First off, it’s ridiculously fun. Picture this: a mashup of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong, played with paddles on a court that’s easy to conquer. Kathy and I laughed our way through those first lessons—sometimes at our flubs, sometimes at our wins. It’s low-pressure joy, and that’s golden for a hobby. As Dale Carnegie said, “Get interested in something. Let the winds of enthusiasm sweep through you.” Pickleball’s that spark—every swing’s a thrill.

Then there’s the social vibe. We’ve met active friends from our course and new pals at local courts—folks of all ages who share the love. It’s not just exercise; it’s a community. Nicholas Sparks hit it right: “The saddest people I’ve ever met in life are the ones who don’t care deeply about anything at all.” Pickleball builds bonds, and for retirees like us, that’s priceless—new buddies to laugh with over a post-game coffee.

It’s also perfect for staying active without overdoing it. At 62, I’m not sprinting marathons, but pickleball’s gentle on the joints and big on cardio. Kathy’s hooked on the strategy—dinking shots over the net like a pro. It’s fitness disguised as fun, keeping us moving in this retirement chapter.

And the accessibility? Courts are popping up everywhere—parks, rec centers, private clubs. Our 12-week course was a breeze to join. It’s affordable, approachable, and addictive—everything a hobby should be.

So pickleball’s being added as another retirement pastime —fun, friends, fitness, all wrapped in one. Grab a paddle, hit the court, and tell me how it goes—I’m betting you’ll love it as much as Kathy and I do! What’s your next goal? Let’s hear it!

60 years to celebrate

Highlights of our trip included:

- A couple's massage on a private island in Aruba, overlooking the ocean on a private beach with pink flamingos

- A snorkelling trip in Bonaire on the ship Lady Bella, with cocktails and an amazing lunch

- Relaxing on the Celebrity cruise ship during the "Poolest Day Ever" sea day, taking part in a Tai Chi class and pool aerobics!

Back home, we had more than one celebration with family and friends to celebrate this special milestone. I count myself as so lucky to have been married for 33 years to Kathy and life with her keeps getting better.

How are you doing?

The process Kathy and I use is fairly simple . . .

1. We review our 100 life goals in December of each year, so that we have then finalized for the start of each new year. We review the 10 goal categories and set one or two goals in each category (i.e. Personal Development, Health, Family, Financial etc.)

2. Each week, we have a 15 - 30 minute planning meeting on Monday morning (after our morning fitness routine), review our annual goals set in point one above.

3. We decide which of our goals we want to work on during the week, scheduling any time specific tasks or activities into our weekly calendar, and specific tasks into our task list. I use my apple "Reminders" app to keep track of these tasks, with LISTS for:

- TODAY'S COMMITS

- THIS WEEK

- TO DO NEXT 30 DAYS

4. I look daily at these lists and adjust our tasks as necessary to account for variations in our daily plans and accommodate any needed changes.

5. I write daily entries into my journal, keeping track of key habits I want to maintain daily in a table format, such as our morning walks, workouts, goals/task review and reading in addition to my weight.

That's it. Simple. You should develop a plan to work your goals that works for you. Don't wait until the end of the year and realize you didn't spend enough time focusing on what goals you decided were important this year.

If you didn't receive my 100goalsclub.xls worksheet, let me know and I'll send it to you. This is the cornerstone for this process and easy to customize for your own life.

Next newsletter . . .

Brian Klodt founder of the 100 Goals Club

CREATE YOUR ADVENTURES! https://www.100goalsclub.com brian@100goalsclub.com

P.S. Have a productive and goal accomplishing month ahead!!