On top of all the pressures of modern life, there is now a trend of making your hobby pay. Anything people enjoy doesn't really matter if it isn't shared online. And if it doesn't bring money, followers, or recognition, it doesn't really matter that it makes you happy. People don't talk about things they like to do, they show it off. Same with holidays - nobody tells stories and shows photos, they are put online instantly while you are there. Getting away from it all isn't cool.
My sister knits. She finds inspiration on podcasts, blogs and websites. She follows some people who made it into a job, have built a business out of their hobby. It makes them happy, but it also brings them stress. Some people thrive and make it a success, others come and go. But many friends ask her: why don't you start a blog or a website yourself? She usually says that she doesn't bring out new patterns or styles, she mainly follows instructions. The true is, she does exactly what makes her happy and sees no reason in shouting it to the world. Why don't you open a shop, then? Sell knitwear online? Because to make it worth, the product would be really expensive and probably wouldn't sell (without massive following of dedicated fans). The effort of changing a hobby into a business would take the pleasure away forever. One thing is to spend few weeks or even months making a sweater for yourself, other is making something to order, with a deadline. Where is the fun in that?
Other friend loves lots of crafts. She sews, knits, crochets, make beads, whatever. She did want to open an online shop after her child has started school and her days have opened up a little, yet she couldn't find a job that fits the hours. Then she calculated how much she would have to charge to make a profit. And looked at what people expect to pay for home-made crafts. And realized that she would have to make lots and lots stuff, work through the night, sell a lot, to make it worth the material, energy, time, postage...
I bake. Husband asked why don't I sell my baguettes at the school fair? Because I can easily make 6 baguettes by hand and bake them in my home oven. And it takes a day with two proofs. But to sell them, I would need to make lots, lets say 60. Again, by hands? In our home oven? On the day of the fair? When I came with the practical questions to his suggestion, I was met with a shrug and the impression that I was unimaginative, lazy, can't think outside the box. First question I had was, why do I have to shout to the world that I enjoy baking? So what?
During lock down, people asked why don't I teach yoga again? Everybody is offering online classes, why don't I? Because if I am not already in the business, don't have contacts and a customer base, how am I actually making myself visible in the sea of influencers? And how is home production of classes for free actually making it worth it? And who will do the home-school while I am busy filming? Plus, not teaching yoga means a very good daily practice that fits around my life and, honestly, when it is time to return to a class, I will know it, but in the meantime, I am fine as I am. It doesn't make me less of a yogi. The truth is, I don't mind taking break from teaching, because doing something I love most is more important than being successful, rich, or popular. It doesn't make it less worthy, quite the opposite.
I grew up with people quietly going on with things, pottering in gardens and sheds, making, crafting, mending, creating things. And it is nice that we are finding lots of these crafts again. But why does everything have to be publicized, hash tagged, and monetized? If something makes us happy, isn't it enough? I tried to turn the best thing I know - yoga, into my job. And it wasn't great. There were great moments, but I established the fact that marketing and self-promotion isn't my strength, and it makes me weary about getting back. Life is busy as it is and I know that other opportunities will present themselves. However, to live for the likes isn't a life. How many people ask every day for help with coping, anxiety, sadness, feeling of failure? The previous generation didn't live online, didn't seek instant gratification, didn't need to show a proof of their existence every day. They weren't stronger than us, they just lived a different way of life. We can learn something from them, and just simply be without the need to justify it. Doing something for ourselves is enough, however imperfect the result. It may be the best free therapy we have. And to simply do something for the sake of doing it and to be happy with the result is more than enough.
Besides, becoming a self-published author made me realize that marketing is really not my strong part. But writing is, and books are great. That is probably the one hobby that makes sense to change into a career (as long as there is another way to pay the bills).
