RA sometimes presents a challenge when it comes to this or that chosen interest or hobby...I was actually thinking about this today.
I know that my own favored activites certainly changed when I was first diagnosed. Initially, it was simply to the extent that I went from being athletic to being more sedentary in my focused pursuits. As I have logged years with this condition, I can see that my interests have become more spirituality-based, too.
Most importantly, I find that my favorite activities now tend to make me forget my pain. I think that has to do with my level of focus; I'm less scattered and impatient as I get older. I like to read, sew, bead and study different spiritual topics. These kinds of activities require that I sit still, which requires that I make the most of the time my body will put up with sitting still!
Anyway, I was just wondering what others here do for fun, hobby-wise, and so on.
What do you enjoy as a hobby or favorite activity? Does it help you forget your pain, at least a little bit?
My current most passionate hobby is playing in the Noe Valley Orchestra in San Francisco. That's me...top row center. Music can be very spiritual, especially when it comes from inside you, rather than through some electronic device. I forget everything except the notes in my head and the task of getting them to my fingers at the right time!
Alan
Great pic Alan! I love music and wish I could still play. I took Classical Piano for years but could listen and play just about anything on the piano.
Now my hobbies are reading (especially anything Tom Clancy including his non-fiction work), crocheting, watching sports instead of playing them now lol, going down to the beach and throwing sticks in the water for dog (only in the summer tho lol), and spending way more quality and creative time with my family. Even when we go camping and I can't do the hiking anymore, I still enjoy quiet activities. While hubby and the girls hike I clean up camp and just sit and read and enjoy the warmth of the sun.
I spend my free time doing genealogy. I have years of information, photos, and things I collected climbing hillsides to find old cemeteries, and now I am organizing it all in a computer database. I also have so many cousins that I have met on-line and enjoy talking to them and learning more about my family history.I enjoy reading books from the late 1800 and early 1900's such as Janette Oake etc. If anyone can reccommend some authors from that era let me know please. I also like to crochet when hands permit. Photography however, is favorite thing of all to do. I take a lot of pictures at my church and church school and of course of my five grandchildren. (Soon to be six) Over the week-end my husband and I went out on the Natches Trace and was excited to find a car club passing through. Their cars were from the 1920's. I can't wait to get the pictures back. Normally I have a digital with me but didn't that day so have to wait a couple of days. I enjoy Signing with my church group but recently had to step down due to low energy level. I also head up an e-mail prayer chain.
Have a Blessed Day Everyone
I love that pic Alan. I am still working on hobbies but I know I love swimming and walk when I am able. I love to read Sun Magazine but can no longer read books because of the pain meds. I love to garden and right now, I love to unpackI'm just moving from an apartment where I've lived and worked for ages to our house that we finally renovated to include some office space for me. I've been back and forth between both places for years and we're now getting ready to move all my furniture and 'stuff' and get rid of the apartment. I'll miss the apartment, but looking forward to being all in one place with my husband for the first time! We like to joke that marriage wasn't half as scary as living together!
Hope you're enjoying your unpacking! Box by box, slowly, slowly, with lots of rests and naps!!!
Justin and I are computer freaks. We have dozens of computer games, and I have a hand-held gaming system. That occupies most of my time. Heh. Then there's our kitten, she gets *so* much attention. She even has her own bedroom. :)
Genealogy is great. Tons of helpful, low cost or free sites. My sister is the family sleuth tho.
Wonderful picture Alan, I see a guitar and what appear (to my decidedly unmusical mind) to be lutes of various sizes - what are they really called?
I'm also addicted to a totally useless computer game called Chuzzle. Beware the Chuzzle.Oh My God. Lynk. I was a chuzzle addict for MONTHS. hahahaha I was also addicted to Hexalot, and Slingo, and Solitaire, and The Sims, and Diamond Mine, and Jewel Quest....oh the list goes on and on and on....
I play sudoku online, and The Sims 2, and Tony Hawk
Playstation games...my thumbs get back at me for abusing
them while I play Tony Hawk, though.None of those games can compete with Zelda. It is the all time greatest game!
Lynk,
They're all mandolins and mandolin family instruments (mandola, mandocello)...no lutes.
I like to read. Anything. I finally got smart and went to our local library and picked out some books. I am currently reading "The PMS Murder". I used to love to do crafty stuff and paint. I started painting the nursery at our church a few years ago. The whole room is going to be Noah's ark with all the animals coming out all around the room. Someday. I had to stop this last year cuz my hands won't cooperate. But today is a new day. I am finally getting my first Humira injection!!! I am so hopeful that is will work!! I would love to be able to finish my project !
Keep your fingers crossed (if you can)
C
CinDee - Great news about your humira injection! Hope it works well for you and you're back painting that ark mural soon. What fun that will be for the kids. Just looked up the book you're reading, sounds like a fun series. I've been reading lots of mysteries lately too.
Word Womp is my favorite on line game. I enjoy scrabble when I have someone around to play with. My two sons are grown and neither of their wives play. Guess I'll have to teach my granddaughters or my 4 year old grandson.LOL That's another hobby altogether, "Grand Kids".I love cats. I feed the neighborhood strays. I also bead, read, and sew. TV - I really like public television, Gray's Anatomy, Boston Legal, Cold Case, and the 3 CSIs esp LV. I married my best friend - together 13 years on Nov 11. I work full time as a programmer. And oh, then there is AI! Its been a good thing for me.Hillhoney - A new Zelda game comes out for my nintendo DS either at the end of this month, or the start of next, I forget. BUT I WILL HAVE IT EITHER WAY! lol <3 Link. Yay for green tights and fairy power. LoL!
Grdnldy:
The book is hilarious!! I also have cats 6 outside. Although I love them I am allergic to cats. My two kids (13 & 18) showed the cats at 4-H. We used to be very active in several clubs (cub, girl scouts, and church groups). I was a Sunday School teacher, cub master, and girl scout leader for about 9 years. I miss it all but was wearing my self out.
I did the first Humira shot about noon and it was a breeze. A little sting was all. Then I took a nap. I didn't sleep well last night cuz' I was stressing over the shot. Not the actual shot but if it will work or not.
Marian: I love all those shows especially Gray's Anatomy and Boston Legal.! ; FUN TOPIC ALL OF IT!
Spider Solitaire!!! When I wake up, my routine is.... get my coffee and while I'm waiting for my bones to 'settle' down, spider solitaire is what I do!!What I do now....spend a ton of time on the computer..message boards and myspace....and I like to read...what else..medical thrillers! and magazines...home decorating and womens magazines...fashion...food....whatever...
What I used to do and am planning on getting back into...scrapbooking, cooking and baking, crafts and making things for the home.
What I am learning to do and doing for the first time...crochet and geaneology....
I want to go back to school. :( That's been my biggest kick lately. I got all excited because I thought I was going to get a Pell Grant...and they said "no." Because I'M ONLY 23. WHAT?!?! They(our *wonderful* governemnt ) won't help me pay for school because my PARENTS MAKE TOO MUCH MONEY. :| Excuse me? My parents like on the other side of the COUNTRY. That umbillical cord was cut long ago folks. I'm on my own, and I don't make enough to go to college! Grrrrr I'm currently looking for grants and scholarships. *sigh* It's very hard to do. I plan on finding something to help me, and getting back in by next fall. If anyone has any suggestions or ideas, please please let me know![QUOTE=crunchy]What I am learning to do and doing for the first time...crochet and geaneology....
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I love that there are things you are learning and doing for the first time.
It's very healthy and...evolving, expansive...or something, LOL. Anyway, I like it.
I'm learning chess and how to draw. By draw, I mean beyond stick figures and smiley faces! Hehe, I can hope anyway...
I scrapbook, read (I'm also reading the PMS Murders,) work on home remodling stuff, enjoy cooking, play with the grandkids, I like to travel, but don't as much as I would like. I also work in stained glass, but haven't in quite a while. I want to get back to that hobby.