Have you ever been asked, “Do you have any hobbies?” If your answer is, “I really don’t have any”, you may be missing something. The happiest people I know have hobbies. Those who are in constant stress tend not to have hobbies. They don’t have the time…right? Let me tell you about my friend, Dan. He is 84, and living a life most people only dream of:
Dan began his career in pharmaceutical sales. He was a champion performer and retired after 30 years on top of his game. His next move was immediate: He went to a career in executive coaching and team development. He became a cohort of mine, and did brilliant work. He retired after 15 years of coaching. He was ready for his next career as an entertainer.
Dan is a natural performer and he started his own business of doing comedy and nostalgia shows for nursing homes. He soon became quite successful, and was booking over 100 shows per year.
Dan is an example of the value of hobbies and avocations. I can easily think of ten more people with similar stories. There is one thing we can learn from every one of them: Always have a hobby or avocation. Doing so helps ensure balance, reduce stress, and may lead to our exciting next venture in life.
