Hobby Nerd

I wanted to start off my Women’s History Month posts, by telling you all about a new little hobby I’ve picked up. With all that goes on currently in my life, I wanted to do something that was just for me. I know that may sound selfish to some people, but everyone, not just women need their own time. Time to do something you enjoy, that is just for you. Something that brings you peace, eases stress, works on personal health or growth. Something that makes your heart smile.

Now, I have a bunch of random little hobbies that I love like taking photo’s, writing, reading, scrapbooking, baking and party planning. I still love all those things, but I wanted to learn how to do something new that blended perfectly with my creative and quirky side. So, I chose painting. Painting, drawing, sketching, doodling really; and it has been so rewarding for my soul. It’s almost like meditating for me and I’m absolutely in love.

For anyone who knows me personally, knows that when I get into something I go all in; and sometime’s kind of overboard. Fortunately, I have plenty of space in my little writing/craft room for some extra artsy shenanigans. I’ve gotten fancy pencils, watercolor markers, paint brushes, canvases, sketch books, acrylic paints and water colors and I’ve been a total doodle-bug.

My entire life, I always knew I could be creative, when it came to scrapbooking, certain crafts and even party planning. I just never thought in a million years that I could draw. Fortunately, art is defined by the person making it. Then it gets redefined in the eyes of the people seeing it. I’m still at super remedial levels of my new craft, but I’m so inspired and passionate about learning and creating new things with these hands of mine. Creating prints for my friends and family, and mostly creating my version of art, for me.

Finding something new about myself in my mid-thirties is completely surprising to me. The fact that I’ve lived my entire life thinking I couldn’t make a straight line, let alone drawing some cutesy animals and plants. Being surrounded by super talented artists within my family (great-grandfather, grandmother, great uncle, uncles and even cousins and my big brother), I never wanted to be compared to their capabilities. I never wanted to fail in their eyes, so I never even tried. That was my fault, and I’ll never hold myself back from trying something new again in fear that I won’t be a superstar at it. I don’t need to be the best at it, I just need to enjoy it and find passion in what I’m creating. For now, I’ll be a learning doodle-bug and I hope this post inspires you to try something new. Maybe even pick up an old hobby you haven’t had time for in a while. Take the extra time and effort to do something for you. I promise you won’t regret it.

Happy Women’s History Month folks.

Your friendly neighborhood nerd of all nerdy feminists,

~Melvi

P.S Take a look at some of my recent doodles, and what are your hobbies? Tell me what you love to do, for you. I would love to hear!