"Exploring New Interests"
Most cancer patients are already familiar with the concept of social distancing. Our reasons for self-isolation are different than those of people taking precautions due to the Corvid-19 virus. Perhaps during debilitating treatments or to avoid crowds due to a weakened immune system, a cancer patient finds themselves at home for long stretches. When our social life is limited, it is fun to acquire new interests or hobbies.
Personally, I enjoyed exploring a few new interests while staying at home more. Some of these pursuits may be short-lived, but for now they are keeping my mind occupied and my hours productive. I thought it might be helpful to offer some ideas to other cancer patients who wish to turn off their mind-numbing television and reap the benefits of being mentally engaged. What can a person do at home, especially if they are not in the best of health? Many hobbies can be worked on inside and with limited mobility.
The first logical step to any new hobby or interest is to read and research about it. If you end up deciding not to get actively involved with it, you will at least have enjoyed the time spent reading and learning. For example, if you always wondered about herbal remedies, reading about the history of plant-based medicine could be fascinating, even if you don’t start making your own. That is only one example. If you are curious about any subject, reading about it may lead to other related interests as well.
If you decide to take the next step from reading to doing, many activities require little effort and only basic supplies. You would need help with a grand project, but most tasks can be scaled down to fit your stay-at-home circumstances. For example, if you think you’d like working with wood, you could start small with a project such as a birdhouse or wooden toy. Save the wooden table for when you are well and have a wood-shop with helpers! Here are some ideas to jog your thinking.
Gardening: Even if the weather is inclement or you have an apartment, you can grow plants on a small scale. Herb gardens are one popular choice. In fact, if you don’t want to put a lot of effort in organizing one, entire pre-packaged gardens with all the supplies you need are available. Spring-green plants add a nice touch to your kitchen. A tangent topic I’m learning about is making one’s own herbal teas.
Cooking: If you are not able to eat out, it’s a good time to cook various ethnic dishes you’ve savored while dining out. Have you wanted to try cooking exotic dishes or those with unusual spices? Internet has not only recipes but interesting step-by-step videos. Bon Appetite!
Baking: Have you tried your hand at bread making? Kneading bread has the bonus of being therapeutic . Would you enjoy baking decorative cupcakes for a neighbor or friend? Designing creative frostings can be as entertaining as painting.
Writing: Maybe you aren’t up to publishing an epic novel, but most magazines solicit short contributions. Find one in your area of expertise and submit an article for fun.
Photography: Instead of snapping another photo of your pet, try finding an artistic shot nearby. Who knows? You may want to enlarge and frame it for your wall!
Stock Market Investing: Disclaimer—you won’t get rich, but during the quarantine, I started a free account with a major brokerage firm. Due to internet, buying and selling is easy. Find a service which doesn’t charge fees to move your money around. If you make a profit, it’s all the better. If you don’t add to your bank account, you will learn your way around the stock market for future investments.
Start a Collection: This does not need to mean a stamp collection. Also I’m not referring to the dozens of pairs of shoes in your closet! People find pleasure in starting and maintaining out of the ordinary collections. Beyond tea cups and spoons, you can turn an interest of yours into a unique hobby.
Art: Drawing or painting may not come easy to you, so you may have avoided such a hobby in the past. Why not try your hand at art again? Whether you are on a paint-by-number level or resident-artist level, simply making something with your hands is rewarding and relaxing.
Yarn and other crafts: I have purposely avoided both knitting and crocheting so as not to be called upon to make even more items for grandchildren! These types of crafts may be gratifying to you, though. They are easy to carry anywhere, keep your hands occupied, and result in worthwhile items for gifts or your home. I imagine some people are hesitant to try something unfamiliar to them; but remember, you can start out small, making a potholder or a Christmas ornament. Additionally, there are dozens of other arts and crafts you might explore, from making jewelry to handcrafting soap.
Sewing and related: Granted, for larger projects you’ll need a sewing machine. However, without such an investment if you don’t already have one, you could hand sew small items. I recovered an antique chair with only a pair of scissors and a staple gun. I liked selecting a fabric authentic-looking to the period. To my satisfaction, it resulted in a usable chair. Tap into your inner interior decorator!
There’s an inherent satisfaction that comes from working with your hands. One of the benefits of creating and crafting is a sense of accomplishment since they are purposeful endeavors. Plus, there’s the feel-good element of being able to create your own gifts for others. Pablo Picasso said it well: “The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.” If social distancing helps you find your gift, it ceases to be a difficulty; it has become an opportunity to serve others.
Reflection:
1. What interests could you explore?
2. What arts and crafts could you turn into gifts?