no time like the present

Recently, I haven’t really taken the creative mental opportunities, that seem to be so sporadic, to sit down and write another blog post. However, as per the theme of this post, there is no time like the present. 

I’m currently sitting at our kitchen table, breathing in the air of the open window, and eating my breakfast. It’s a slow Sunday, one where I choose to rest and move slowly instead of driving into Lexington to go to church or running errands before my afternoon shift. I find that I really need mornings like this, likely because I grasp at the free time I have when I’m not exhausted from a day at work. I got to thinking over my steak and eggs, plus a homemade biscuit (thank you to one of my roommates!!), that there really is no time like the present to pick things up. Exploring new hobbies has been the overarching message drilled into me during this time of postgrad (almost a year? How did that happen?).

I’ve been thinking for several months that I would like to explore graphic design on a more primitive basis: learning how to design or update a website, creating graphics for friends’ bands, etc. This morning, my boyfriend texted me about an opportunity for some work kind of in that sphere, which I believe was my catalyst. I quickly texted a family friend who knows way more about this stuff than I do, seeking advice on how to get started. I was just thinking to myself, there is no time like right now to start doing it. It’s something I’ve been entertaining for quite some time, so why not just go ahead and try it? One of the more freeing things that I have realized in these 11 months since graduating is that I can try things, because even if I fail or end up not liking it, it was just a way of furthering myself and making my life fuller. 

Something I have been up to recently is woodwork. Very basic, but nonetheless it’s been what I would classify as my most time-consuming hobby. I am developing aspirations that lean more traditional in a homestead kind of way (not too crazy, just like bread and gardening and exploring low impact living). With that aspiration of gardening, I decided to build raised garden beds. In the past month or so, I have made more trips to Lowe’s and Home Depot than I am comfortable admitting. I currently have two beds made and sealed–in an orange color that did not look that way on the paint can–and plenty more wood waiting for a chance at something. After writing this, my plan is to head down to the basement and start on a picnic table. My general thought process has been, how hard can it be? And while it has been relatively easy, challenges have been posed at random times in unexpected ways. I find it gratifying though, like I am finally using the problem-solving aspect of my brain more than I have in quite some time. 

Accompanying the garden beds is the obvious question of what to put in them. Last week I planted several seeds for several different plants to grow in our garden. It took a bit of research, though my parents had a garden when I was a kid and I have some general knowledge when it comes to plants and growing produce (emphasis on general). I knew that marigolds and tomatoes should be planted together, but I learned that basil should be thrown in the mix as well. And with the basil, peppers. I’m learning that my little planters create too much humdity, so I’m going to have to figure out a solution (drilling holes in the top?). 

All of these recent hobbies have been kind of spurred on by this idea that I might as well start on something if I want it to get done. Learning to prep some of my food the day before I cook it is now a better way of going about things than waiting until I’m ready to start cooking because otherwise it will take way longer than I would have liked. I was putting off laundry because I didn’t want to spend an hour and a half at the laundromat, so I hung up a clothesline in our backyard to eliminate a chunk of that time. It’s little things like these that are motivating for me; the gratification of putting work in with my hands and then seeing the product, whether it be a couple hours or a couple months, has changed how I use my time and the way I view my own capabilities. 

I doubt that in ten years I will be living on a farm or finding my main source of income from these things. But I would like to think that the more I continue to do stuff like this, the less my consumption depends on external sources. That may sound a little kooky, but there is something about the autonomy and independence that these side projects or interests give me that I find intoxicating. It’s like my dopamine rushes are different now, because it’s my effort that affects my progress and feelings. 

Anyways, I know this was a bit different than past posts. I’m using a lot of the time that I could be writing to check out the different interests that I now have time (and money) for. Hopefully the next post will be in a month or so, rather than another four. As always, thank you for reading. I hope you got something out of it, even if it was a reason to stay away from gardening and building. Talk to you next time.