Fill up your holidays with a new hobby

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 22/12/2021 (1055 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

’Tis the season to be ______ ? 

Obviously, the blank should read “jolly” but if you’re have lost someone special in your life, the holiday season can be a time of sadness. My heart goes out to all those who wish they could be a little jollier at this time of year. 

That said, if you need some cheering up during the holiday season, what better reason than to spoil yourself a little. Maybe it’s time to buy yourself a giant TV or make financial plans for that family vacation you’ve been putting off?

If you are looking for some holiday happiness, I recommend that you spend your time with whatever activity that warms your heart and just dive right in.

Maybe you’re looking to start a new hobby? For me, that hobby is woodworking and I find that it is complex enough to always keep me interested, as it allows me to be creative and building something always gives me a sense of satisfaction.

The project doesn’t have to be complicated and there are so many ideas out there to spark your imagination. I like to use “interest to check out different ideas.

If you’re just getting started, why not try making a charcuterie board? This project can be very simple to mildly complex, depending on the style you choose and it doesn’t require much material or tools. The local sawmill guy or lumber yard will have a nice piece of wood you can use and from there a handsaw, jigsaw or a buddy with a bandsaw is really all you need along with a little sand paper and some elbow grease. In no time you’ll be upping your game and looking to build bigger and more complex projects. YouTube is another great tool you can use to teach yourself the techniques for pretty much anything.

Whatever you decide to do to pass the time, I wish you all the best during this holiday season. Be sure to spend time with friends and family if you can and be good to each other, as Andrew Marvell wrote in the poem “To his Coy Mistress”:

“At my back I always hear, Time’s winged chariot hurrying near.”

Or maybe that’s Santa on your roof.

Happy holidays, merry Christmas and happy new year everyone. Hopefully 2022 is a good year for all of us.

Dan Sylvestre is a teacher at Collège Churchill High School and a community correspondent for Fort Rouge.