Tuesday, May 01, 2007
Work or Play?
A friend of ours mentioned last night that she and her husband had managed to turn every hobby they've ever had into work.
That statement really made me stop and think about my rabbit hobby. Am I turning it into work?
Sure, there's a lot of work involved in every hobby. Rabbits may even have more work involved than the average. I believe the joy of doing a job well isn't something to avoid, but when do we cross over from hobby to pure work?
I don't think we can judge by the amount of physical labor involved. Being physically tired after doing work is often a good feeling, as long as you don't overdo it. I enjoy how mentally freeing manual labor can be. It's a time when my mind relaxes and takes some time to explore possibilities or work through issues or, more often than not, to wool gather and daydream.
Unless you hate to learn new things, then I don't think we can judge whether a hobby has gone over to the "work" column by the amount of learning to be done or the amount of studying required. That's probably a very individual thing, but I personally LOVE to learn new things. My mother often says that if she were independently wealthy, she'd probably just go to college for the fun of it (she already has three degrees as it is). I can see that. Teach me something new and you have my full attention!
So what makes a hobby turn into work? Here are a few ideas:
That statement really made me stop and think about my rabbit hobby. Am I turning it into work?
Sure, there's a lot of work involved in every hobby. Rabbits may even have more work involved than the average. I believe the joy of doing a job well isn't something to avoid, but when do we cross over from hobby to pure work?
I don't think we can judge by the amount of physical labor involved. Being physically tired after doing work is often a good feeling, as long as you don't overdo it. I enjoy how mentally freeing manual labor can be. It's a time when my mind relaxes and takes some time to explore possibilities or work through issues or, more often than not, to wool gather and daydream.
Unless you hate to learn new things, then I don't think we can judge whether a hobby has gone over to the "work" column by the amount of learning to be done or the amount of studying required. That's probably a very individual thing, but I personally LOVE to learn new things. My mother often says that if she were independently wealthy, she'd probably just go to college for the fun of it (she already has three degrees as it is). I can see that. Teach me something new and you have my full attention!
So what makes a hobby turn into work? Here are a few ideas:
- Attitude - how we view the activity makes it work or fun - remember Tom Sawyer painting the fence?
- Freedom - whether you choose to do an activity or feel forced to do it makes a huge difference - when your hobby becomes a series of obligations, it turns into work
- Motivation - if your motivation changes from personal satisfaction to profits, power, or vengeance, then you've lost your hobby
- Volume - bigger is not always better - if your hobby grows too large, the sheer volume of it can turn it into work
- Choices - control of your own hobby, whether it be the time you choose to spend in it, how you spend your money, or how you define success, helps keep it in the 'fun" column and out of the work arena
- Rejuvenation - though your hobby may tire you out, it should still rejuvenate you and send you back to your workaday life with a feeling that you've had a break
- Anticipation - when something is fun, you look forward to it - when you no longer look forward to bunny-related activities, it's time to get out.
Anyone may have a bad day with their hobby or even a slump or low period. It's probably not best to throw the baby out with the bathwater. But if your hobby has become work in the long run, it's time to pull back, re-arrange, cut down, or maybe even change hobbies.
Laurie Stroupe
The Nature Trail Rabbitry “Home Of Grand Champions”
Precious Pet Rabbits
Affordable Web Site Design
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Could not agree with you more on your statements. There are so many breeders out there that have taken the fun out of showing. If they are not #1 they have to take it out on the person that is. I have thought many times of getting out of showing rabbits not just changing breeds but getting out because if you change breeds you still have to put up with there un-sportmaship and attitude. This year I could care less about them or if they win or who wins I am there because I want to show my rabbits and get the judges comments and that is the only reason. Winning is not important to me because along with winning comes to much gossip
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