Why goals for hobbies and passions?

What are hobbies?  Hobbies are an activity or interest pursued for pleasure or relaxation and NOT as part of your career or occupation. 

Goals for exploring your hobbies and passions are one of the most important areas in terms of living a life that is uniquely you.  There are literally hundreds (and even thousands) of hobbies, passions and interests which you can get involved with.  It is important to establish your hobbies and passions before you turn 30, before your career and family take over.  

• As children and youth, we develop our first passions, whether it be in playing sports, learning music or being creative.   
• As parents, our goal is to expose our children to as many hobbies and interests as possible in the hope that they will find something that they become passionate above. 
• As adults, we become so engaged with our other responsibilities (family, career . . . ) that we sometimes stop doing the things that we were once so passionate about.   
• In retirement, we all of a sudden have enough time to immerse ourselves in past and new hobbies, taking them to a new level.

To live a life that is meaningful and exciting, you need to either discover or rediscover things that you can devote meaningful time to.   

What are hobbies and passions to design your dream life?

The following list is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of things that can become your hobbies and passions, interests and loves.  

• Animals:  Equestrian, Pets, Animal care  
  Most animal lovers are truly passionate about owning their pets.  I know a couple of people who take their dogs to dog shows and are very passionate about this. My daughter is an active equestrian rider and absolutely loves everything about horses.  I'm sure she will remain this way throughout her life as her primary passion.  
  
  
• Automotive:  Cars, Motorcycles
  Generally men are the ones passionate about their cars, automobiles and motorcycles. Fixing up old cars, collecting vehicles and maintaining them can be a very satisfying hobby for so many people.  Most towns have car shows once a week during the summer months where car enthusiasts get together and show off their cars to each other and the general public.  
  
  
• Church and Religion:  Spiritual, Volunteering
  Many are passionate about religion and supporting their faiths through active attendance of church events and through volunteering.  
  
  
• Creative:  Painting, Crafts, Sewing, Photography
  Artistic passions are some of the best passions.  They can be hard to develop a career around and are often best to pursue as a hobby with your passion kept alive.  I live very close to an art gallery that has guilds for people pursuing their hobbies and passions for photography, fine arts, sculptors and woodcarvers, rug hooking, hand weavers and spinners, potters and fibre arts.  I plan on joining their photography guild one day.  
  
  
• Home:  Renovations, restorations, interior decorating
  With all of the home and garden TV shows (HGTV) and the emphasis on living in beautiful spaces, many have take up passionate interest in renovating and decorating their homes.  With all of the big box stores for home renovations like Home Depot and Lowes, it has never been easier to learn how to become handy and learn how to make home improvements.  For some, this can develop into a serious hobby or passion.  
   
• Indoors:  Reading, TV, Movies, Games, Computers: 
  Although these may seem like odd things to develop hobbies and passions around, many people derive happiness from immersing themselves with these activities.  If they make you happy and you are learning something along the way, go for it!

• Music:  Playing, Entertaining, Live Music, Concerts 
  Music is one of my personal hobbies and passions and it gives me immense joy.   Listening, playing, performing, practicing.   I play acoustic guitar, bass guitar, electric guitar and drums.  I've been learning since I was about 12 years old and continue to learn today.  Many people have told me they have an interest in learning an instrument like a guitar, but they never follow through with it.  You're never too old to learn and develop music into a hobby or passion.   It's also relatively inexpensive to develop into a serious hobby, especially if you are smart about buying used instruments.  
  
  
• Outdoors:  Fishing, Gardening, Hunting, Camping, Boating, Biking
  Outdoor activities are great to build hobbies and passions around, offering the benefit of physical exercise as you fish, garden, hunt, camp, bike etc.  These are activities that you can enjoy your entire life, as age has little bearing on your ability to participate in as you grow old.  They are also easy to enjoy with other friends or family.  
  
  
• Sports:  Golfing, Swimming, Skiing, Tennis:
  There are hundreds of sporting type activities that you can participate in, learn, practice and compete in at a variety of beginner and amateur levels.  Often these start as activities started in youth and dropped as you get into being an adult.  If you truly enjoy these sports, why stop??  Playing sports is one of the best ways to help you achieve your health and fitness goals.  Exercise with a purpose!
  
  
• Social Activities:  Bowling, Billiards, Curling, Dancing:
  Activities which involve other people in a social setting are great hobbies and passions to immerse your self into on a regular basis. There are numerous clubs, teams and groups that meet regularly who all have a passion for the same activity.  Find something that speaks to you and get involved!

The key in assessing what are hobbies for you is that they are not related to your career.  If you turn your hobbies into your career, you'll need to find a new hobby, by definition!

Try writing out a list of everything that you have done in your life or aspire to do in your life that you believe you have a passion for.   Your hobbies and passions are what will make you completely unique from everyone else you know.  Don't forget them as you age and make time for them, even while raising a young family.  

My 10 life goals in the area of hobbies and passions

Reference my track record on goal accomplishment, where I list my 10 of my 100 Life Goals on hobbies and passions as follows . . . 

Some of my hobby goals that I’ve completed to date are:

31 – Started and performed with a 7-piece rhythm & blues band that was called Groove Doctors (1997–1999)

32 – Purchased a drum set and performed in a band as a drummer (2017)

33 – Restored our Gables on the Park properties (1992 to present)

34 – Developed a love for skiing with my daughter, Madison (2003 – present)

35 – Attended 10 concerts with my favourite bands (2003 – present)

One of the reasons for writing this book is to hold myself more accountable for achieving future 100 life goals.  Here are my next 5 future Hobby & Passion goals that excite me:

36 – FUTURE GOAL – Start or join an amazingly talented band and perform at high profile charity events. (TBD)

37 – FUTURE GOAL – Bike around Lake Ontario (1017 Km) with my daughter, Karah, on a 10-day trip.  This is a decade goal I set with Karah in 2003, when I turned 40, yet to be completed. (TBD)

38 – FUTURE GOAL – Learn and perform 10 guitar singalong campfire songs from memory, and do this whenever there is an opportunity (cottage parties, Christmas parties, other gatherings). (TBD).    

39 – FUTURE GOAL – Do an amazing Christmas lights display (to music) on our 4 Gables on the Park heritage homes. (TBD)

40 – FUTURE GOAL – Interview 10 successful people about their goals and keys to success. (TBD)
Outrageous Goal – Interview 37 successful people (37 is my favourite number, based on the 37 Decade Goals I wrote for myself when I turned 40).  

ACTION:  Write out 10 Life Goals pertaining to hobbies and passions that you want to develop and nurture in your life!   There is no reason to lead a boring life!!

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Go to 100 Life Goals page for 100 goals you can set right now!

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Last Updated:  March 30, 2022