What did you love to do as a kid? And why the hell did you stop?
Oh yeah, work. And family. And life got in the way.
By the time you finally get a few moments, you’re too wiped out to do more than scroll or crash in front of Netflix.
But is that leaving you feeling fulfilled at the end of the day? Probably not.
So here’s an invitation to consider reigniting some of your youthful passions and bring some spark back into your life, at least a couple days a week!
The Compass of Childhood Joy
Whatever lit you up as a kid or a teenager might still give you clues as to what would make you happy as an adult.
It doesn’t matter if they were solo hobbies like writing & reading or active hobbies like skateboarding & playing sports – don’t you think those things might still bring you joy today?
And what do these kinds of activities say about who you were, and still are?
Literal Play vs. Adult Adaptation
Of course, not every childhood hobby fits neatly into adulthood.
If you liked pretending you were a superhero or building blanket forts, those are great ways to bond with your own kids or nieces & nephews. Or just playing by yourself, I’m not here to judge! – You could create a cozy reading nook instead of a blanket fort, or become an EMT instead of pretending to be a superhero!
Most childhood hobbies can be adapted in some way to your adult life. Pretend games can turn into fabulous fiction books, and climbing trees can look like hiking or mountain climbing.
The possibilities are endless! The point is that play matters throughout your life, regardless of whether it’s literal or adapted.
Nostalgia as Medicine
Returning to old hobbies isn’t just fun — it’s healing! You’re reclaiming pieces of yourself that were left behind.
Nostalgia can be a form of self-care (for example: adult coloring books, roller skating comebacks, LEGOs for grown-ups).
Passion First, Profit Second
Some hobbies can even evolve into businesses and “side hustles”, but you need to be aware of your passion levels throughout – monetizing too soon can kill the joy, & if it’s not fun, why do it?!?
Writing has always been a thread in my life. As a kid, I made weekly comics for my classmates. That grew into short stories, then poetry, then even some (slightly rebellious) light erotic fiction. For a while, life got in the way and I stopped — but when I sat down to write a little book on goal setting, I remembered how much fun it was. Since then, writing has evolved into blogging, poetry, fiction, and whatever else sparks me in the moment. No profit yet — maybe someday — but the real win is that I found the joy again.
My friend Josh is the perfect example. In high school, his passion was playing guitar. But when it came time for college, he chose engineering — something he was good at, but didn’t love — because it promised steady money. Still, he found ways to keep music alive, freelancing as a guitar teacher and joining a band. When the pandemic hit, he leaned on engineering and made solid money designing blueprints, but he hated every minute of it. As soon as restrictions lifted, he dropped the job and went back to teaching guitar and playing shows. Now he makes a living doing what he loves, and I couldn’t be prouder. 😊
Hobbies as a Shortcut to Excitement
Remember my Excitement Map post?
Are any of your childhood hobbies on there? Should they be?
They might be a gateway to the “Fuck Yeah” zone! 😜
Journaling Prompts
Want to go deeper? Grab your journal and play with these questions. Sometimes the answer to ‘What lights me up?’ is already sitting in the toy box you left behind…
- What were my top 3 favorite hobbies as a kid? What feelings did each give me?
- If I had one whole Saturday with zero responsibilities, which of those hobbies would I instinctively do first?
- Are there ways to adapt my old hobbies into adult life? (Ex: blanket forts → interior design or cozy home rituals; rollerblading → dance or hiking…or even roller derby!; pretend games → creative writing).
- Which of my hobbies still sneak into my life now, even in small ways?
- What does this say about who I am — then and now?
- How could I reclaim even one hour a week for something I loved as a child?
- What hobby could I share with my kids, friends, or partner as a way of reconnecting with play?
- Do I feel pressure to monetize my hobbies? If so, how would it feel to let them only be for joy again?
- What piece of myself do I think I’ll “get back” by doing this hobby again?
It’s never too late to pick up the sketchbook, the rollerblades, the guitar.
Try one this week. Play, create, explore — then come back and let me know how it felt.
See if it still makes you “fuck yeah”!
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Rock on!
zen BLITZ 