Literary Leisure Hobbyists

Venturing into the library of the mind, where every book is a new realm.

In the vast realm of passionate pursuits, one stands out for its quiet dedication to the world of words and ideas. If you are a reader and a life-long learner, you are a literary leisure hobbyist.

What defines a literary leisure hobbyist? A literary leisure hobbyist is someone deeply immersed in continuous learning, driven by a quest for profound understanding, without ulterior motives.

Theory and research have overlooked a subtype of serious leisure referred to here as the liberal arts hobby or the systematic and fervent pursuit, during free time, of knowledge for its own sake. People who take up such a hobby have as their primary goal the acquisition of a broad knowledge and understanding of, for example, one or more arts, sports, foods, languages, cultures, histories, sciences, philosophies, or literary traditions. - Robert Stebbins.

Their thirst for knowledge knows no bounds. The very title 'Literary Leisure Hobbyist' points to where they find their source of learning. Reading is the primary path they travel. Documentaries, lectures, or direct participation in related activities are other ways they investigate the world.

The significance of what they read also lies in its diversity. They cultivate a holistic worldview by engaging with various topics, genres, and cultures. This breadth allows them to connect seemingly disparate ideas, fostering creativity and innovative thought.

However, like all passionate pursuits, there are obstacles to navigate. They are faced with time constraints. Pursuing knowledge requires hours of solitary reading, reflection, and research. Managing time to find the necessary solitude in the social world of the 21st century is daunting. The liberal arts hobbyist has to be content with the feeling that they are missing out on one area by focusing on something else. We're inundated by a tsunami of information, often leaving us pondering where to begin.

In a world bursting with information, the literary leisure hobbyist stands as a beacon of genuine curiosity and depth, a silent dance, a delicate embrace of the world's mysteries.

Stebbins, Robert A. “The Liberal Arts Hobbies: A Neglected Subtype of Serious Leisure.” Loisir et Société / Society and Leisure, vol. 17, no. 1, Jan. 1994, pp. 173–86. https://doi.org/10.1080/07053436.1994.10715470.

The Pythagorean Whisper

A Mantra of Mindfulness

Secrets from the ancients that might cure our modern distractions.

The Boss is Always Watching

You're constantly being supervised, not by a watchful employer, but by the most discerning of bosses, yourself. This is the crux of the Pythagorean Secret mantra, which watches you like a boss. It's more of a mindset than a mantra. Throughout the day, self-monitor your behavior, return to mindfulness, and become undistracted with the admonition, "Will, are you doing what you know will move you closer to your goals?" In the hustle of our modern lives, we often forget to be present. Your mind wanders. This mantra reminds us to act with diligence as if our boss always looks over our shoulders. And it turns out that you can be the boss. You have to act like a boss.

Speaking in the Third Person: A Step Back

Imagine your boss (you) calling yourself out by name. "Will, focus on the task!" Sounds strange. Yet, this slight shift in perspective can be transformative. Referring to oneself in the third person fosters an environment of self-awareness, creating a small but potent distance, making us more attuned to our actions and intentions. Having a watchful boss call you out and insist you get back on track is a powerful antidote to mind wandering.

Echoes of Ancient Wisdom

It's almost poetic how wisdom from the ancient teachings of Pythagorean Secrets remains relevant today. They urge us to introspect and be conscious of actions and intentions.

The Hidden Art of Practice

It's best to keep our boss/employee relationship private. In a world where everyone shares everything, the ancient Zen philosophy of practicing in secret becomes revolutionary. It's not about fraud or deceit but humbly focusing on personal growth. It's a journey where the road traveled matters more than the accolades received at the destination.

Crafting the Future Self

The payoff of following the boss's admonitions is shaping oneself for a better tomorrow. Every act of compassion, every stride in mental fitness, every stumble, and every victory is a brushstroke on the canvas of the future self. Through love, compassion, and moments of clarity, we design the blueprint for our forthcoming days.

Secrets within Secrets

These tools, secrets whispered down the ages, beckoning us toward a life of greater mindfulness. They emphasize not grand gestures but daily habits, not ostentatious displays but silent perseverance.

How about trying this for a week and sharing your experiences in the comments? I'm curious to hear if you've felt a connection, a stirring, or even a hint of recognition.

Prize Nuance over Novelty

Finding Depth in the Subtle Echoes

Subtle Profundity

In moments of quiet introspection, I've often found myself captivated by the shimmer of novelty. Yet, as the wisdom of Emerson, Montaigne, and Thoreau guides me, I wonder: Is there something more profound hidden beneath the surface of the new and the now?


Delving into Neophilia

It's in our very fabric, this innate thirst for the unfamiliar. Neophilia, or the love for the new, pulses within us, urging us to seek out novel experiences and landscapes. But is this endless pursuit, this constant horizon-chasing, truly fulfilling?

[Montaigne once mused, "The greatest thing in the world is to know how to belong to oneself." Are we truly belonging to ourselves in chasing novelty or simply running after fleeting shadows?]


The Deep Allure of Nuance

Perhaps, rather than sprinting towards the next big thing, it's worth pausing. To listen, to feel, and most importantly, to observe. One doesn’t always need grand spectacles or transformative events to appreciate life truly. Sometimes, the intricate patterns in a leaf, the fleeting emotion in someone's eyes, or the barely audible sigh of the wind brings profound joy and understanding. ★★Insert phrase and Link to https://www.kestrelcreek.com/wooden-zen/footprints-on-familiar-gravel.★★ Honing our senses to recognize these subtleties, life becomes an endless adventure, filled with layers waiting to be discovered. Each day promises a discovery even in its repetitiveness.


The intricate dance of awareness

The art of attuning oneself to life's subtleties is akin to refining one's senses to the whispers of the universe. The challenge is to weave our existence with richer threads of meaning gleaned from the soft murmurs of the everyday.

Six tips for developing a 'nuance muscle.'

  1. Cultivate Mindfulness
  2. Embrace Stillness
  3. Keep a Nuance Journal
  4. Engage All Your Senses
  5. Seek Solitude in Nature
  6. Engage in Deep Conversations

In this journey of life

We share the collective quest for meaning, for joy, for discovery. Novelty's allure is undeniable. The real treasures lie in the quiet moments, the gentle tug of the familiar, and the subtle whispers of the everyday. And as we reflect, may we find the courage to look beyond the horizon and discover the beauty in the nuances.

Echoes of Ambient Belonging

Environmental self-regulation is the whisper of a feeling that surroundings, circumstances, or a place are somehow an extension of you. Physical spaces around us subtly impart cues, helping us comfortably slip into our roles and guiding us toward our objectives.

At the heart of such experiences lies the term ambient belonging. Defined as your connection with the physical space. It's about finding oneself amidst the inanimate. Like seeing a familiar face in a crowd, it’s that feeling of familiarity in unfamiliar territories.

Wouldn't it be wondrous if every place we stepped into held a story, a lesson, or a reflection of our inner selves? If every corner, every gust of the wind carried a fragment of our identity?

Our narratives—the stories, experiences, and memories we carry—profoundly shape our perceptions of spaces. These narratives influence not just how we perceive spaces but also how we behave within them, and they extend, touch, and interweave with the spaces we inhabit. This isn't only about spaces; our narrative holds the echoes of ambitions, dreams, and essence. Spaces can serve as the base of our narratives.

Spaces resonate differently for each of us, drawing out varied emotions and memories. When you have this experience of ambient belonging, reflect on how it makes you feel, the stories it evokes, the parts of you it mirrors. For in these quiet introspections, we often find the loudest revelations.

The Dance of Thought and Ink

Seducing the Evasive Thought

Imagine trying to woo a lover with mere thoughts. It's much like attempting to serenade the wind or charm the moon. Thoughts are coy mistresses, teasing us with their presence and vanishing at the slightest distraction.

When you were a kid, do you remember trying to catch minnows or a tadpole with your bare hands? That's what it feels like trying to grasp a fleeting thought. Thoughts are rascals, darting here and there, eluding our grasp. But, give a man a pen, and suddenly, these slippery thoughts are caught, tamed, and displayed for all to see.

The Intricate Dance of Speaking and Writing

Speaking can be likened to a stolen glance across a crowded room—spontaneous, surprising, and a bit risqué. Writing, however, is the slow dance, the lingering touch, the whispered promises.

Writing is a carefully choreographed swing dance, with each step, turn, and release flowing from within. On the other hand, speaking is more like an impromptu dance party than writing - a complex, fluid expression of thoughts. There's an intimacy in capturing a fleeting thought, akin to holding someone's gaze.

It is important to remember that the musings presented here are just one person's perspective on the world. Each person's journey with their thoughts, speech, and writing is as unique as their fingerprint. However, isn't that what makes it all so enjoyable? The shared experience of exploring words and thoughts while retaining a deeply personal connection to them.

Reflecting on the dance between thought and ink.

How often do you let your thoughts slip away, and how often do you tie them down with the string of words? So, in the cozy corner of your heart, how do you serenade your thoughts? Do they remain unrequited loves? Have you felt the enchantment of a dance of words on paper?