Few things in this world define us more than music. Not just as individuals, but entire generations. Music has a unique way of telling our stories, helping us communicate, and navigating our victories and our failures.

The ultimate physical activity. Yes, it is a great workout for aerobic and anaerobic activity. Nearly every muscle group is worked, and it improves power and coordination.

Reading. Getting lost in a story. The words on a page become a movie playing in your mind. Characters you create. Stories that bring tears to your eyes or a smile to your face.

What is it about bird watching? The simple hobby has probably existed as far back as humanity itself. Birds are fascinating. They’ve inspired artists, poets, scientists, musicians, inventors, explorers, and all of us normal people, too!

I didn't know it then, but we loved our bikes so much because of the freedom they gave us. The wind in your face, going as fast as you can, exploring new places--made us feel invincible. What kid doesn’t want freedom and to feel invincible?

One young man was wheeled onto the stage in a wheelchair and assisted in a dance by others who moved him about the stage as part of the choreography. I left the event feeling light and refreshed. It reminded me that perfection is never a necessary ingredient when it comes to dance. Anyone can dance. They really can.

This routine created an unhealthy balance in my life. I worked and worked and worked. And then just stopped. Sleep and repeat. Day after day. I didn’t make time for any play. Nothing fun. No hobbies. No unscheduled shenanigans. I may have felt like I was getting enough rest because I was getting a good amount of sleep, but I was still very much off balance. 

Despite my complete inability to play, I really enjoyed learning, and it became one of my all-time favorite hobbies. But playing (kind of) guitar was something I fell into for all the wrong reasons. So how do you choose a hobby that is perfect for you? 

In the past, knowing how to play an instrument was a sign of belonging to a certain level of society and was one of the main forms of entertainment and leisure. Now, music is available to anyone who has the determination to learn it.

Several years ago, in my days as a teacher, a group of students bought me some Legos for my birthday. But these were not just any old Legos. This was Marvel’s Helicarrier from the Avengers movie--one of my favorites. I’m talking 3000 pieces of Lego bliss, more than 100 pages of instructions, and easily a few hundred dollars to purchase. I know what you’re thinking. My students are outstanding. And you would be right. 

With her desk in mind, I pondered organization. I tended to clean sporadically, but the mess returned within hours. Could a person really truly keep their space tidy, day in and day out? The more I toyed with that idea and tried it now and then, the more I became convinced: A clean area inspires creativity, instills confidence, and improves quality of work.

Go play! We all need to hear and heed those words on a regular basis, no matter what our age. As we get older, play doesn’t come as naturally as it did when we were kids, but if you’re trying to add more play into your life, I love the idea of looking back to childhood to rediscover and reintroduce favorite forms of play from years gone by.

Maybe she felt bad about the divorce and that’s what convinced her to let me go, I don’t know, but what I do know is that every minute of my time there was heaven. I literally whistled while mucking out the stalls.

Nowadays, I love a good podcast. Some of the first podcasts I listened to had to do with the field I am in - genetics. Because genetics is rapidly changing, podcasts have been a way for me to stay up-to-date on what is new in the field without having to read tons of articles all the time. I also have really enjoyed true crime podcasts. I love shows like Bones, and so finding podcasts that dive into a murder case or serial killer story always interests me. Plus, I learn what situations I should not get myself into where I could get hurt.

If you haven’t before, try finding a few books of poetry from your school or public library. Pick a couple different ones because the truth is that there is a huge range of style and voice when it comes to poems. It might take a few tries before you find a poet you resonate with. I’ve certainly read a poem or two and put books right back on the shelf before!

It’s taken me years to slowly learn the names of the nature around me. The beautiful thing is that nature is always waiting for us to explore and know her! There are some beautiful, easy to use tree identification books you could probably find at your school or public library. They also make them for birds. Immersing ourselves into the natural world right outside our door is a deeply therapeutic exercise. The fact is that we are more invested in something when it has a name and is known.

One of my very favorite parts of Facebook is viewing my memories from years past. My old posts contain photos of my children when they were babies, friends from my college days, and written thoughts that highlight happy memories that I’ve made. They fill me with joy as I think about each day and see the history of my life unfold before me. 

Think back to right before your last vacation. What were you feeling as you prepared to hit the road or head to the airport? Excitement? Adventure? Maybe even a little restless? You may not know how to describe it, but you probably know that feeling - the anticipation of knowing you’re going to see someplace new and have fun experiences. Shortly after, you go on the trip and have a blast. But after a few days or weeks, it must come to an end. That’s when another feeling hits. 

This quickly changed again when I got to college, was pretty broke, and took an ethics class that changed my mind on some of my favorite stores because of how they got their clothing. I started hitting up Goodwill, etc. again. At this point in life, I can find just about anything I need through thrifting; although, I do visit places like TJ Maxx and Marshalls frequently as well - new clothes at discounted prices! 

An activity that forces you to think about something else besides whatever is worrying you is helpful. Distraction (to an extent) is a positive way to cope with something. I’m not talking about avoiding your problems and never working things out. When you’re not taking care of problems, you’re just prolonging anxiety and issues. Distraction is NOT healthy in this way. However, sometimes, we just need to clear our heads. For example, last year I was applying to graduate school, involved in several clubs and extracurriculars, working, and a full time student. I needed ways to just relax and let the anxiety out during that time. Driving is one way to do this. It gives me the opportunity to focus on something else. When your brain is in hyperdrive, it needs a break! Distraction can help.