I see the logic of "channels" but for me it conjures images of things we change and switch between rapidly, often passively - and things we tune into rather than create. For those reasons it doesn't work for me personally, though I'm genuinely glad you've found an alternative word that works for you. As for my own solution... I think maybe the "by" on the end of "hobby" is the problem, as it suggests something cutesy and not worth an adult's time. I'd like to keep the option of "hobby" for fun, not serious, I'm-just-tinkering-kinds-of-things but add "hob" - a friendly-sounding parallel to "job" - to describe things with more passion, commitment, or lasting power. People can then ask what jobs you have and what hobs you have. Bonus that "hob" has other meanings that related to cooking, cutting metal, and making mischief - all of which are apt. Double bonus that if someone has a job they don't take seriously, they can call it a "jobby." : )
I love this post Sam! I have long had a beef with “hobbies” too (in particular, how they are so subjugated in our culture that so many don’t even have one!). I love the idea of calling them channels!! I think we should have whole classes in schools that introduce students to the huge range of channels out there!! Curious to hear more of your thoughts on this topic!
Really glad you like the piece Jen! And hear you - everything we learn from a young age points toward the idea of one thing becoming your profession one day - and that being the focus of your life. The joy of Channels - you can change them! Sure you might have some you return to all the time, but that doesn't mean you can't tune into a new one every now and then :)
Sam this post is one I gladly read twice! The first, I was on a train and had lost connection, therefore couldn’t comment. I Love this! And the fact that you decided on the word ‘channel,’ makes complete sense. I often can be found channeling my Arts practice by way of Visual Arts and the written word. You may see that I’m sketching out drafts in almost any medium ~ to later make the piece more like the vision I’d had. Then- you may not find me until the next day! ;) I’m immersed when making visual artworks, “channeling” what I envision in an otherworldly bliss. That zone is the high that I prefer to chase because it is fulfilling, entertaining and healing. In fact, I’ve always gotten a kick out of saying that it’s also free therapy. No doubt it has spurred a fantastic following in therapeutic arts. But there’s more…you know the rest, I am quite certain. In closing, that so-called ‘hobby’ is the passion I turned into my own life’s QUEST as a Multi-Disciplinary Visual Artist and Copywriter. In my honest opinion, it’s a lifestyle akin to paradise for all the places and people it has brought me to. Thank you so much for your excellent work and for sharing this… and allowing us the spaces to continue channeling. :) ~Adriana
This is so thoughtful and thought provoking - as someone whose primary channel is tuned to thinking, making, and doing in the realm of Language and Literacy, I realize 'hobby' can be another example of words that seem to minimize - like calling someone a jogger instead of a runner - surely some people are self-identified joggers (and, certainly, self-identification is key and to be honored), but to call someone a jogger who identifies, trains, and sees themselves as a runner can be a form of diminishment, if that's a word?!? What things are named (jogger v runner) and how things are modified (I'm just a ___) can impact self-perceptions, confidence, etc.
Also, I really appreciate Alison's take on hobby and hob/job and jobby! 👏🏼
I just love words/word play - ooops, there I go with the minimizing modifier! I almost edited it out, but I am leaving it as an acknowledgement for how hard can be to make some of our words and language framing patterns go away.
I see the logic of "channels" but for me it conjures images of things we change and switch between rapidly, often passively - and things we tune into rather than create. For those reasons it doesn't work for me personally, though I'm genuinely glad you've found an alternative word that works for you. As for my own solution... I think maybe the "by" on the end of "hobby" is the problem, as it suggests something cutesy and not worth an adult's time. I'd like to keep the option of "hobby" for fun, not serious, I'm-just-tinkering-kinds-of-things but add "hob" - a friendly-sounding parallel to "job" - to describe things with more passion, commitment, or lasting power. People can then ask what jobs you have and what hobs you have. Bonus that "hob" has other meanings that related to cooking, cutting metal, and making mischief - all of which are apt. Double bonus that if someone has a job they don't take seriously, they can call it a "jobby." : )
I love this post Sam! I have long had a beef with “hobbies” too (in particular, how they are so subjugated in our culture that so many don’t even have one!). I love the idea of calling them channels!! I think we should have whole classes in schools that introduce students to the huge range of channels out there!! Curious to hear more of your thoughts on this topic!
Really glad you like the piece Jen! And hear you - everything we learn from a young age points toward the idea of one thing becoming your profession one day - and that being the focus of your life. The joy of Channels - you can change them! Sure you might have some you return to all the time, but that doesn't mean you can't tune into a new one every now and then :)
Sam this post is one I gladly read twice! The first, I was on a train and had lost connection, therefore couldn’t comment. I Love this! And the fact that you decided on the word ‘channel,’ makes complete sense. I often can be found channeling my Arts practice by way of Visual Arts and the written word. You may see that I’m sketching out drafts in almost any medium ~ to later make the piece more like the vision I’d had. Then- you may not find me until the next day! ;) I’m immersed when making visual artworks, “channeling” what I envision in an otherworldly bliss. That zone is the high that I prefer to chase because it is fulfilling, entertaining and healing. In fact, I’ve always gotten a kick out of saying that it’s also free therapy. No doubt it has spurred a fantastic following in therapeutic arts. But there’s more…you know the rest, I am quite certain. In closing, that so-called ‘hobby’ is the passion I turned into my own life’s QUEST as a Multi-Disciplinary Visual Artist and Copywriter. In my honest opinion, it’s a lifestyle akin to paradise for all the places and people it has brought me to. Thank you so much for your excellent work and for sharing this… and allowing us the spaces to continue channeling. :) ~Adriana
This is so thoughtful and thought provoking - as someone whose primary channel is tuned to thinking, making, and doing in the realm of Language and Literacy, I realize 'hobby' can be another example of words that seem to minimize - like calling someone a jogger instead of a runner - surely some people are self-identified joggers (and, certainly, self-identification is key and to be honored), but to call someone a jogger who identifies, trains, and sees themselves as a runner can be a form of diminishment, if that's a word?!? What things are named (jogger v runner) and how things are modified (I'm just a ___) can impact self-perceptions, confidence, etc.
Also, I really appreciate Alison's take on hobby and hob/job and jobby! 👏🏼
I just love words/word play - ooops, there I go with the minimizing modifier! I almost edited it out, but I am leaving it as an acknowledgement for how hard can be to make some of our words and language framing patterns go away.