I’m sitting on my hardwood floor with music blasting in my headphones and I look over at my precious hoodie shredded into pieces on the ground. This was no mistake. As finals concluded, my annual fear of a dull summer returned so I decided to break my old habits and try a new hobby.
I’ve always been told I do too much. I have a lot of hobbies, and I’m not very talented in any of them, but they add a little whimsy to my boring life. I dedicate time to creative writing and crafts, and this summer I tried sewing.
I decided to start by upcycling my own clothes to save money. The idea of cutting up and trying to sew my own clothes used to make my stomach churn, but now I’ve found the satisfaction that comes with mixing up my routine and I have a customized hoodie.
My peers and family tell me their lives are boring and they wish they could have hobbies like mine. What they don’t realize is they can. We unintentionally encourage the mundane when we don’t take action to change our lives like choosing to doomscroll rather than try a new activity with a friend. It’s easy to fall into the trap of monotony, not just in terms of our schedule, but also in the world around us. People are often discouraged by the misconception that to do the DIY projects found on Pinterest you have to be talented, but I once taught my friend how to make a strawberry out of beads and she ended up forming the shape better than I could.
I got tired of walking into my room with blank walls every day so I did something about it. I covered my walls in art, lights and playbills. I’d never done something so expressive before, but I added new color and wonder to my room. I even have a cat peeking out the top of my light switch.
There’s a fear that seeking out whimsy is childish. In school, we’re taught how to manage every second of our time to prepare us for the real world, and while having a schedule is important, it’s also valuable to have variety in our lives. Don’t be afraid of whimsy. Nothing is wrong with being immature if it makes you happy and helps to escape your routine life.
Adding whimsy to life doesn’t just apply to creative projects, but also to classes, clubs, jobs and friends. There are so many ways to mix things up in your lives. Take classes you might not normally pick to add something spontaneous to your schedule. Try a new restaurant, get a job or plan an unusual hangout with friends. I found my own whimsy this summer by exploring my interest in sewing instead of worrying about whether I would be good at it or if I was wasting my time on something silly. So quit moving within the mundane and start working in some whimsy.