I am Kate and I’d like to tell you something very interesting about hobbies people have. Well, as far as the personal interests are concerned they are numerous. It was counted that there are more than 1,019 personal interests and ways of spending our spare time. I must say that the modern word “hobby-horse” came from the old English word “hobyn, hoby”. Originally referring to a small horse or pony, it later came to denote a toy horse or hobby horse, hence an activity done for pleasure. Hobby is usually defined as an interesting occupation at leisure time, not one’s regular business. Some people are so dedicated to their profession that it becomes both a means of earning a living and a hobby. In fact, such people find it hard to draw a line between work and pleasure, working hours and leisure time. Others find their work monotonous and search for an escape or at least a change from the daily routine.The main thing about hobbies is that they enlarge our knowledge in some particular field and broaden our outlook as well as add to our personal attraction and experience in life.
The most popular hobbies are philately, collecting view cards, coins, stickers or books, travelling, hiking, sewing, knitting, etc. Scores of young boys and girls indulge in sports and games or just support their favourite teams. Nowadays, millions of people consider healthy way of life to be their hobby.
The right choice of hobby is very important as it helps us relax after a hard working day full of stresses and fills us with a special feeling of happiness and inner harmony.
The character of your pastime occupation can vary greatly and depends upon a lot of factors. It’s quite natural for city-dwellers to feel like having a walk or a drive in the country. The opportunity to enjoy wild nature can be accessible through hunting, fishing, hiking, and mountaineering or picture-taking. People who are interested in photography always have their cameras on them to be ready to take a shot any time. They take photos of historic buildings, landscapes, and seascapes or just take photos of their friends and keep a photographic record of family events.
Others are keen on drawing. This kind of leisure time activities is very noble and artistic. Even children can fill their albums with fancy flowers and animals for hours running. Some amateur artists prefer oils, others use water-colours and felt-pens. However, all of them have a sharp eye. I belong to this company. When sitting with a pencil over my album I feel at peace with the world and seem to radiate the harmony of the Universe. Sometimes I can hear the song of my Muse who inspires me and accustoms my eye to beauty. This kind of hobby removes tension from the mind and rests the soul. Drawing satisfies the need for self-expression and the hunger for beauty.Another thing I can hardly imagine my life without is music. To my mind, music is the most mysterious art. I believe there is hardly a man alive who can clearly explain the effect of harmonious sounds on human soul. Sometimes I can even see music, especially when I listen to my favourite bands.
As every normal teenager, I like discos and nightclubs. But dancing is not just a good opportunity to get rid of my tension. I go in for modern dancing seriously, have two or three classes a week and sometimes even feel like taking it for my lifetime career. In my opinion, dancing is a unique body language that helps our soul express its deepest and most cherished dreams in a sincere and refined way.
As for my friend, she is crazy over hiking. A hike, as English dictionaries say, is a long walk or march in the country for pleasure or exercise. To go hiking is to go for a walk of this kind. Hiking is a good thing and one of its advantages is that you need not worry about language, tickets, trains and other things. What you really need is just a knapsack with those few things necessary for a hike. They say, hiking is the best way to see the country.
Another popular hobby is collecting. One can collect quite unexpected things: matches, bottles, stones or even cars. However, badge-, stamp-, toy- and picture-collecting is more popular with public at large. A real collector is, first of all, a curious person who sometimes helps promote historical science.
Our hobbies can be crucial to our life. Doctor Chekhov’s hobby, for example, made him a world-known writer. Who knows what one can become due to his or her favourite pastime.
