It was a usual lesson for the fourth-grade pupils, and young Olivia did not expect anything interesting. She looked through a window to a schoolyard. “It is so boring to sit here when the weather is so nice on the street and children are playing hopscotch.” Suddenly her thoughts were interrupted by the teacher’s voice.
– Today we will talk about hobbies. I am sure that everyone has at least one hobby, and by sharing it with the class, you may find new companions with whom you may share your passion.
One of the boys in the class raised a hand and asked the teacher.
– Mr. Evans, what does the word “hobby” mean?
– It is something that you can do with inspiration, and you feel joy when you spend your time on this activity. Usually, people uncover their talents in their hobbies, which is a good indicator of what profession to choose in the future because it is great to do what you love. So let’s start with you, Oliver. What do you like to do?
– I love to play with my brother, ride a bicycle, and my lego toys.
-You see, by playing with a lego constructor, you develop your imagination and technical skills to connect everything properly. So, in the future, you might be a famous inventor, engineer, or architect. What about others? Steven, what do you love to do?..
The teacher asked every child, and soon some hobbies started repeating. Children gathered in groups to discuss their hobbies, and it was very exciting to know that their classmates had the same interests.
– Olivia, what do you love to do?
This question puzzled the girl. She heard answers from other children, but they were not right for her. She loves her mother, father, and dog, but “loving” is not a hobby. She likes to play with other children, but “playing” is quite a vague term for a hobby. She doesn’t collect bugs, stamps, or dried leaves. She doesn’t have constructors or puzzles. She thought hard, but nothing came to her mind.
– I don’t have a hobby, Mr. Evans.
– It should be something that you love to do. Just try to recall Olivia.
The other children looked at her expectantly, and Olivia started to feel uncomfortable.
– I love to help my mother сooking – Olivia lied, she doesn’t like it, but she needed to say something just to stop being at the center of everyone’s attention.
– Good. You see, it is easy – the teacher said. But it wasn’t.
Olivia didn’t know how many children lied the same as she did or if she was the only one. It was not important. From this moment, all her attention was around a question about what she really loves to do and whether it could be a hobby or not.
After school, Olivia decided to stay at home, think very hard, and write about how she is spending time finding her hobby. She can’t be worse than others. They have hobbies and will get a lovely profession that they like because of it. But what about her? If she doesn’t have a hobby, then it means that she will do something that she might not even like!
It was so sad and unfair that Olivia decided to change this situation now and forever. Her father told her she was a smart girl, and it was time to prove this. In ten minutes, the list of her activities appeared on the paper: walking with her mother, watching cartoons, playing with kids, exploring the garden, listening to stories about her father’s work, jumping in the puddles, and other stuff… She liked everything but couldn’t highlight a separate activity and proudly called it “her hobby”.
Olivia tried hard, but finally, she gave up trying and accepted she was a loser and she didn’t have a hobby! In this case, if I don’t have my own hobby – I will steal it from someone! – decided the girl. However, she should be sure that a “stolen” hobby will suit her interests. For this reason, she decided not to be in a hurry because she had enough time before she needed to choose her future profession. So, she can observe what other children do, ask questions, try things, and make notes and when she collects enough information, she will make a decision.
From this day, Olivia dedicated part of her free time to these observations. She asked questions, tried to do what other children were passionate about, and carefully added all information in her notebook. It was not an easy task because she tried to understand how children choose their interests and why they love them. She started spending more time on this research, her questions becoming deeper, and her writings in the notebook longer. Olivia was not in a hurry, and she enjoyed this process.
Other children became aware of her heightened interest in different hobbies, and they introduced her to people with unique hobbies. Everything started with their peers, but soon, they introduced her to their older friends and even family members.
In a few years, Olivia became a local celebrity. Everyone knew her as a girl who collected information about hobbies and wrote stories about them. One day, an editor from the local newspaper asked Olivia to share some of her observations with readers because her stories may inspire people to try new things. She agreed. Olivia thought if her observations couldn’t help her now, maybe they would help others.
Her stories have received positive feedback from the readers, and the editor asked her to continue sharing her notions in the newspaper weekly. She accepted this proposition.
Olivia continued to collect information about the hobbies of others to choose the best hobby for herself without even knowing that she already had one.
In twenty years, everyone will know her as one of the greatest journalists of our time.
