Whatever Happened to Having a Hobby?

I love my acting classes. They push me to be more fearless, vulnerable, and frankly—loud. I'm naturally reserved and rarely speak above a certain decibel, so these classes force me to go beyond what I think my vocal chords are capable of. These classes also allow me to meet new people and make friends who are like-minded in their desire to be creative; it can be tough to make new friends post-college, I've realized. I get to learn about the greatest playwrights throughout recent history, like Anton Chekhov, Tennessee Williams, and Henrik Ibsen—whom I never would have read outside of class. This art form that I've been fascinated with since childhood has finally become a hobby of mine—but my acting teacher doesn't seem to be ok with that.

This acting teacher is knowledgeable, talented, and utterly attentive to each and every student. He does, however, seem to only want to continue teaching you if you want to make acting your livelihood. This is confusing to me, considering that a fair number of students at this acting studio have full-time jobs that they can't exactly bail on so they can go audition for a part that's never guaranteed. We have bills to pay, and sure, if you're lucky enough to find acting jobs that pay enough for you to live, that's great. Most of us, however, need to keep the jobs we have, especially if we're paid by the hour. It seems unreasonable to me that this teacher expects us to be auditioning constantly without much thought to our own lives and the need to pay the bills. What's so wrong with being in these classes because we genuinely enjoy the craft?

With any activity you choose to do, don't pressure yourself into making it your new job, side-hustle, or money-making scheme. Sometimes you want to do something just because it brings you joy; it's called having a hobby. Look back at what you loved when you were 9—was it dinosaurs? Plants and bugs? Painting? Going on bike rides with your friends? Harness your inner 9-year-old to find those things that bring you joy, and do them. Go to a dinosaur museum once a month and geek out over the stegosaurus bones; start going on bikes rides on local trails with a friend or two on weekends; go to the library and check out books on horticulture—let yourself simply experience joy. You don't have to make everything a side-hustle; that sucks the joy out of what could be a simple pleasure in your life. Go to a painting class without pressuring yourself to become the next Picasso; paint because you love to paint.

And if you do choose to monetize your hobby, cool! Do what you want. I simply want people to see that it's ok to do something that brings you peace, joy, and relaxation without making it seem like you must make a livelihood out of that thing or else you're "wasting your time", or that if you're not making money off of it then you're not a "girl boss." Just do what you love. Don't complicate things. If acting classes raise my confidence, push me out of my comfort zone, and allow me to make new friends—then that is more than enough for me. It's a hobby I love, an art form I admire, and a new skill that could help me be a better communicator. I don't have to become a full-time actor to prove that I love it; I'm no less of a good acting student because I choose acting as a hobby and not a livelihood. The same goes for all areas of interest that matter to you.

The more interested you are, the more interesting you'll be.