Self-expression fascinates me. I am drawn to things that are inherently personal in that the way one approaches them is in large part an extension of who they are. The older I get the more comfortable I am cultivating an identify that is unique to me and the more captivating I find others who do the same. I’m the type of person who thinks a lot and feels a lot, so I need a lot of outlets to express the different sides of myself. The way I see it is that the most fulfilled people are those who never let the “noise” upstairs get too loud. They have hobbies that simultaneously shape and express who they are. The things we are passionate about become a part of us as they draw personality from us. We all need things like that in our lives because if we don’t where does all that energy go? At best its wasted while at worst it comes out in ways we would rather it didn’t. Here are three of my hobbies. I am not an expert or professional at any of them but each has and continues to be a journey that allows me to exercise each part of my psyche.
Chess
Chess is a fascinating game because it is equal parts science and art. Each element is present and they must always operate in tandem to achieve results. You need the creative flair to find inspiration on the board but also the cold-hard calculations to refine it and keep your intuition honest. This tension between science and art is what keeps me coming back to the game of chess. I have played in many tournaments, and continue to play online on a daily basis, but it never gets old seeing how two people approach the same position. How we differ in strategy and the tactics we are able to find to achieve it. No two players are the same, each of us has a different balance of art and science, intuition and calculation, attack and defense, and preferences for the types of positions we like to find ourselves in. I see chess as deeply intimate because the way someone plays is an extension of their personality. I am by nature impatient so my preference has always been for aggressive tactical play that involves a lot of creativity-driven risk. However, my defense and positional awareness has steadily improved. I see my growth in balance at the chess board translate into more patience and informed decision making in real life. Simply put, chess lets me get that aggression out while also forcing me to work on being more cautious and level-headed.
Music
Music has and will forever be one of the pillars of my life. My mother made both me and my brother start training the piano classically when were kids and I took it up to grade 10 with the Royal Conservatory. I picked up the electric guitar along the way and I consider that to be my main instrument. The appeal speaks for itself, you can take music any direction you’d like. With the guitar the options are never ending. What techniques you use, what model of guitar, model of amplifier, string weight, the size of the guitar pick, what scales, key, how hard or how soft you approach the strings. I could go for days about how all the different sounds you can get out of a single instrument. One thing is certain though when it comes to the electric guitar. No two of us play the same way. You and I could have the same guitar and same setup yet we will always sound like ourselves.
Why is that?
The equipment is just there to capture the sounds that you provide. The guitar may as well be a blank canvas; it is nothing without the unique handling of the player.
Climbing/ Kickboxing/ Running
I am no special talent at any of these yet I am madly in love with all of them. When I spar, I feel like a chess piece in a game. Outwardly, its all physical but ultimately it’s a battle of two minds trying to impose their will upon each other. You learn the tools ( variety of kicks, combinations, head movement, counters) but how they fit into your game plan is up to you. To fight well you need to know yourself and how what you like to do matches up with your opponent. Never gets old.
Bouldering is so impersonal but so captivating at once. The wall doesn’t give a rip about you but you need to embrace it anyway to solve the puzzle. I would say of my three physical hobbies I am easily the worst at bouldering but there is a simple feeling that comes when I solve a problem on the wall that reminds me of something I would have felt as a kid. You know like beating the boss in a video game on the 50th try or bringing home a good report card. It makes me happy.
I will run until I am no longer able to physically because it is the most organic form of release I know. This is where I can step back from the noise for a while, regroup, and come back with a plan. It’s exercise but it’s a lot more than that. Running is part of who I am.