Treelooney
Member
- Joined
- Feb 7, 2011
- Messages
- 16
- Reaction score
- 1
I definitely think that hobbies can help with the problem of loneliness. However, you have to pick the right ones.
About 22 years ago, I decided to throw away my TV set, in a serious bid to get more friends and improve my life. I came home from work, unplugged the TV, took the back off, and did some serious damage to the wiring, making it useless except for scrap value. I then carried it outside and threw it in the dustbin.
Unfortunately, disposing of my TV did not really improve my life. I have tried to find new hobbies, but most of them just resulted in more loneliness.
For instance, I am not a bad chess player, and I have the potential to be better. I sometimes enter chess tournaments, and tend to do reasonably well. In my last chess tournament, I came equal fourth. However, if you want to really improve your chess, you have to study and practise at home, either from a book, or a computer program. And guess what - that is very lonely. It also seems like sacrilege to stay in and study chess in this beautiful summer weather in England right now.
At one time I was determined to learn to play the piano. I bought a piano from E-Bay, and each night after work I was sitting down for a couple of hours, practising. I signed up with a teacher, but he was the only person I was seeing, once a week. Sure, I learned a bit, but it was very lonely.
Likewise model making - I am good with my hands, but making a model of a ship or aeroplane - well, you just do it on your own. Other hobbies I've tried have the same problem.
You may say, what about sporting hobbies? Well, I am now nearly 58 years old, so not as fit as I once was (but I am fit for my age, I think). I did try scuba diving, but it was a disaster, and I didn't get through the training course.
My latest idea is to try something like hill walking or rock climbing/scrambling. I don't know whether it will come to fruition.
Did anyone find that a new hobby helped them to make friends? If so, I would be interested to hear about it.
My very best wishes to all on the board.
William.
About 22 years ago, I decided to throw away my TV set, in a serious bid to get more friends and improve my life. I came home from work, unplugged the TV, took the back off, and did some serious damage to the wiring, making it useless except for scrap value. I then carried it outside and threw it in the dustbin.
Unfortunately, disposing of my TV did not really improve my life. I have tried to find new hobbies, but most of them just resulted in more loneliness.
For instance, I am not a bad chess player, and I have the potential to be better. I sometimes enter chess tournaments, and tend to do reasonably well. In my last chess tournament, I came equal fourth. However, if you want to really improve your chess, you have to study and practise at home, either from a book, or a computer program. And guess what - that is very lonely. It also seems like sacrilege to stay in and study chess in this beautiful summer weather in England right now.
At one time I was determined to learn to play the piano. I bought a piano from E-Bay, and each night after work I was sitting down for a couple of hours, practising. I signed up with a teacher, but he was the only person I was seeing, once a week. Sure, I learned a bit, but it was very lonely.
Likewise model making - I am good with my hands, but making a model of a ship or aeroplane - well, you just do it on your own. Other hobbies I've tried have the same problem.
You may say, what about sporting hobbies? Well, I am now nearly 58 years old, so not as fit as I once was (but I am fit for my age, I think). I did try scuba diving, but it was a disaster, and I didn't get through the training course.
My latest idea is to try something like hill walking or rock climbing/scrambling. I don't know whether it will come to fruition.
Did anyone find that a new hobby helped them to make friends? If so, I would be interested to hear about it.
My very best wishes to all on the board.
William.