Importance of pursuing CREATIVE HOBBIES

Creative hobbies entail creative use of the mind, body and emotions. They enable flowering of a creative personality and growth of an individual who can offer something new and beautiful to themselves and the world

- YOGINDER SIKAND

When I was growing up (I’m talking here of around half a century or so ago!), it was common for children to have one or more hobby — an activity other than something mandated by school which they pursued after school-hours for the sheer joy of it and on which they spent a significant amount of time on a regular basis.

As a child, I had several hobbies including:

• Collecting stamps, first-day covers, coins, picture postcards, matchbox labels, autographs of ‘famous’ people and ‘toothpaste charms’— little toy animals and birds that came with a brand of toothpaste,

• Reading

• Listening to the radio

• Corresponding with pen-friends from around the world.

I spent a good deal of my spare time (and a fair portion of my pocket-money) on my hobbies.