7.11 Exploring New Hobbies and Passions
The Need for Personal Rediscovery Midlife often brings with it a unique pause—an internal question: What else do I love, beyond my responsibilities? For years, many have shelved their passions to serve careers, raise children, or meet family expectations. But this phase offers a golden chance to return to yourself. Just like Latha, a 45-year-old teacher who took up watercolor painting after a gap of 25 years—what started as a weekend hobby became her escape, and later, a small online store. The spark of rediscovery lights the path to inner peace. Turning Curiosity into Exploration Sometimes passions aren’t hidden—they’re simply unexplored. If you’ve ever found yourself intrigued by music, books, pottery, gardening, or even carpentry, now is the time to try. Curiosity is not childish—it’s courageous. Take the example of Sridhar, a banker who stumbled upon a YouTube video on bonsai art. That curiosity led him to a weekend course, and soon he began mentoring others online. Hobbies...