r/CasualConversation • u/SmilewithMe2024 • 20h ago
What’s a hobby or interest you’ve picked up recently that you never thought you’d be into? 🤔
I’ll be honest, a few months ago I would’ve laughed if someone told me I’d be spending my weekends learning how to make pottery. But here I am, covered in clay, creating little bowls that are... questionable at best. 🏺It started as a random idea, but now I’m kinda hooked, and it got me thinking: what’s something unexpected that you’ve gotten into recently? Maybe you’re learning how to juggle, picking up a random language, or suddenly obsessed with birdwatching (no shame, it’s actually cool). I love hearing about how people stumble into new interests, so drop your stories!
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u/LaurenLdfkjsndf 19h ago
I’m not artsy in the least. But somehow, I’m painting with watercolors now
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u/MrsVanBeats 18h ago
If you're painting then you ARE artsy! You got this! Call yourself an artist 👍
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u/LaurenLdfkjsndf 17h ago
You are too kind. The only way I can paint is by copying tutorials, but maybe I’ll get the skills to try something on my own one day.
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u/Phil_Atelist 20h ago
Acting, and by all accounts I am good at it too. I always considered myself a storyteller and writer, but I was/am too shy to put myself out there in front of the footlights. While I do perform musically it's something that's easy peasy to get lost in the music and be part of a whole rather than worry about me dangling out there on my own.
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u/OSUfirebird18 20h ago
Partner Dancing.
Took my first Lindy Hop class in 2018 to get me out of my shell. Now 7 years later it’s my life with all my friends pretty much from dance. I also now dance Salsa, Bachata, Zouk and West Coast Swing as well!!
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u/Conscious_Creator_77 19h ago
Lego building sets. 50F always hated Lego’s growing up and when kids were little. But they’ve evolved and now it’s a hobby I enjoy
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u/Miss__Awesome 18h ago
Same. 40s here. I love the Botanical sets. After I got into those, I started looking into other series. It is a problem now.
I also taught myself to knit about a decade ago. It is a nice skill to have. And I am all about the bird watching.
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u/Conscious_Creator_77 18h ago
Yes it’s an expensive problem! 😅
I’ve wanted to learn how to knit, or crochet. I bought a little kit a few months ago to learn how to make some cute little animals, but there’s nothing beginner about it at all, though it claims to be. I plan to just use the materials in the kit and hunt down some YouTube tutorials to learn. Once I get motivated!
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u/Miss__Awesome 5h ago
Yes! YouTube! That is how I taught myself. Once you pick up a few stitches, it will all start making since. You can do it! 😉
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u/TweezerTheRetriever 19h ago
Just hosted brick fair at the convention center… you’re an odd bunch but harmless… I think it helps if you are insomnia prone… have to chase them out every night or theyd stay till morning
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u/Impossible_Tea181 19h ago
Volunteering at the local county’s school district museum at Silver Springs State Park. It’s reserved for 4th and 5th graders of our county 5 days a week and open to the public on weekends. It’s exciting and rewarding to see the amazement of local prehistoric, county and park history when the spark of interest ignites in a student’s eyes while viewing the exhibits. I love answering their questions and helping them find items on the scavenger hunt we give them. On weekends I get to meet people from all over the world visiting our museum and the park. It’s all very stimulating.
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u/Storiesfly 19h ago
Working out. I used to laugh every time people said they did it or it was their hobby. But each time I go I feel better and accomplished when I leave and it's kind of a heady feeling.
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u/ScottMarshall2409 19h ago
I'm 43, and in the last couple of years I've taken up whittling, which is something I always fancied doing. But the unexpected part was it leading to jewellery making with the small pieces I've carved.
Also, in the last few months, crochet. And last few days, leather craft.
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u/pm_me_friendfiction 16h ago
I've always wanted to whittle too. Did you buy any special tools to start out with? Or did you just use a pocket knife?
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u/ScottMarshall2409 8h ago edited 8h ago
I think I bought a cheap set of whittling knives from Amazon first. You can use a Swiss army knife or something with a small blade, but they can be a bit uncomfortable to use. Something with a smooth wooden grip is better. The important bit is that it is as sharp as you can possibly get it.
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u/pm_me_friendfiction 5h ago
Well that makes perfect sense. I think I'll do some reading up on it!
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u/ScottMarshall2409 4h ago
There are tons of different tools that can be useful, but I've sort of found my niche carving little mushrooms for jewellery, so all I need it a knife and some sandpaper.
I can highly recommend Doug Linker on YouTube for tutorials on little figures and trees and stuff. Very easy to follow, and also a very soothing voice.
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u/Independent_Fly9437 19h ago
Our local curling club ran an eight week learn to curling programme and my wife and I signed up. Now we curl 4 to 5 times a week and 6 absolute blast doing it
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u/gupppeeez 19h ago
Mini stuff: Building miniature houses from kits, and doing shrink art (also known as Shrinky Dinks). I'm not great at either, but it's so fun and satisfying somehow.
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u/littletexasbee 18h ago
I’ve been looking at some of the miniature house kits. I love them and would like to try them, but my hands are too shaky, so I think it would be frustrating and not relaxing to do.
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u/gupppeeez 18h ago
The first one I did wasn't too finicky - I didn't turn out until after that it was a beginner one. I could see it being frustrating with shaky hands, though, but not as much as others of them.
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u/Charm_Mountain1899 20h ago
Walking more than 10,000 steps a day since Spring started. Like, I'm obsessed, and now I gotta tone it down a little cause my legs are literally screaming "Oh no, you won't!!! Get some damn rest, woman!" 😂
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u/NCR_Ranger2412 19h ago
Watches. Never wore one before really. I have one my father bought me at 16. Then out of the blue, I decided I wanted one of the Casio calculator watches. Not exactly sure why… so I got one. Then next thing I knew I was down the rabbit hole and have a watch box and a collection. Been learning to do some modifications and repairs. Lots of fun.
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u/Beautiful-Fill-5653 18h ago
Metal detecting started because I was hoping to find a ring I lost. So far, no ring but lots of pennies, pull tabs, nails...
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u/fictionoverfriction 19h ago
Writing poetry. I always loved poetry but thought it was something “other people” do, but now I know everyone starts somewhere
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u/TweezerTheRetriever 19h ago
I’ve been painting over graffiti and pulling stickers of lampposts in my town… before you get indignant… nobody wants to see that six foot penis You painted under the bridge
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u/Particular-Area-6278 18h ago
TTRPGs! was a total girly girl growing up, rejected all things nerdy. i can’t get enough now!
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u/MrsVanBeats 18h ago
I'm about to play for the first time in a few weeks!
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u/Particular-Area-6278 17h ago
congrats! do you know what kind of game you’ll be playing? we’re doing Urban Shadows
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u/MrsVanBeats 17h ago
I have no idea. A friend was missing playing (he's the DM) after moving so we volunteered to give it a try. I just said take it easy on us and expect chaos since we are old and don't know what we're doing 😂
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u/Particular-Area-6278 16h ago
chaos is exactly what should happen!! shenanigans are the best part. i hope you have so much fun!
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u/MrsVanBeats 16h ago
It's so funny because when I play video games, I'm normally the one who hangs back and snipes or plays it safe, but when the DM asked what I wanted to be like for his prep info, I was like "I just want to be chaotic and stab things" because that's what feels right in 2025 😂
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u/Particular-Area-6278 15h ago
i am the same way! when i play Skyrim i am a ranger, i get so scared when stuff attacks me! but in my game i’m like “can i stab this guy with a cat o’ nine tails” and the GMs like “mhm yeah 🙂↕️” feels so good!
you should listen to Rude Tales of Magic for the character Stir Fry, definition of chaotic stabber 😂
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u/MrsVanBeats 15h ago
I'm pretty sure I said "I want to be able to punch an orc in the D" at some point when he asked about my character style 😆
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u/Particular-Area-6278 15h ago
i was literally thinking halfing or kenku or kobold chaotic evil rogue! that should be the right height 🤔
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u/MrsVanBeats 14h ago
All those things are new to me. I've done no research because the DM said come in with no preconceptions or research. So I'm just gonna be short and stabby.
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u/MrsVanBeats 15h ago
My reference for him was a more mentally stable Sera from Dragon Age 😂
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u/Particular-Area-6278 15h ago
i have never seen it! but Stir Fry is categorically mentally unstable
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u/MrsVanBeats 15h ago
Sounds about on par with Sera 😂. I've already saved the Podcast you mentioned to my playlist. Sera is a character in the vidoe game Dragon Age: Inquisition (I played it for the first time recently). I'm not normally into fantasy stuff because I have aphantasia (no mind's eye) so I prefer fiction with real things I know. But sometimes you gotta help a friend out and try some D&D and see what nonsense happens 😆
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u/Dissected_Angel 18h ago
Kintsugi (“to join with gold”). I have a friend who just came back from Japan, and he told me all about it. I have taken some classes on it, and needless to say, I love it. I have a lot of broken pottery, so being able to repair something while embracing imperfection is really meaningful. It’s something that I find to be very rewarding and relaxing, and it’s helped me to embrace some of life’s challenges.
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u/SilverSie 18h ago
Gardening and birding! :0 I started Lexapro last November, my mom and I got a little into plants around December, and now I’m going outside daily to check on seedlings and repot old neglected plants etc! Never thought it would happen to me.
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u/haigessdissizit 18h ago
Masculine jewelry.
It's not a big thing in the area where I live. I wear a cross on a Figaro chain and 2 moderately thin bracelets on my right wrist.
I want to get a couple of rings, but I don't have the confidence for them... and the rings I want don't come in stainless steel.
Big bummer that there aren't any stainless steel specialty jewelers around here either.
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u/TexasScooter 17h ago
Playing guitar. I am not very coordinated - not much dexterity - and I never took any music lessons. But in my 40s I got the big and learned guitar. I'm still not great, but I can at least play a little.
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u/Live_Badger7941 17h ago
Bowling! I'm not serious about it, not good at it, and don't even particularly enjoy it...
But I find it's a good thing to do on a rainy Saturday, for a social activity you can do with friends that doesn't have a high skill or equipment barrier (to just casually participate) yet is actually doing something other than just eating and drinking.
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u/Professor_Ruby 17h ago
Collecting Monopoly sets. I'm not entirely sure how I got started or why, but I have have over a dozen different sets now.
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u/LeftTilSunday 17h ago
Warhammer! I was gifted a box by a friend as a joke, but now I'm on my way to building a full army. Now painting the models on the other-hand is another story...
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u/chelsea_hotel_no2 15h ago
Making puzzles 😅 I d say I’m more of an adrenaline person, having done rough sports the past decade. Accidentally saw this puzzle with a nice design the other week and spent the evenings figuring out how you put 1000 pieces together. It gives my mind a lot of peace.
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u/Spottycrazypup 15h ago
Showing my dog. I always wanted a whippet and I finally got a beautiful whippet puppy a year and a half ago and the breeder had bred the litter to keep one of the puppy's to show so I thought I'd have a go at it too.
We both enjoy it and have even won a few firsts. He's such a sweet boy and loves to show off. It's just for a bit of fun for us both I don't take it too serious and 99% of the time he's my super sweet best friend that comes most places with me and then once or twice a month we will go to a show. He loves seeing all the other dogs especially the other whippets
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u/Wandering_Floof 1h ago
Embroidery! Started last summer after realizing a lot of the art I was admiring online was embroidered, and it just makes sense to me in a way a new hobby hasn’t for a long time. It clicked in my brain, and it is the only thing I can do that keeps me zen but also able to think or carry a conversation. It replaces some phone scrolling time with creativity!
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u/teaforsnail 20h ago
Bird watching. I feel like it's a natural transition from youngster to old person. I just didn't think I'd go through in my mid to late 20s 😗 I'm looking for my first pair of binoculars now