A hobby is defined as an activity done regularly in one’s leisure time for pleasure and therefore, a hobby can be noncommittal which one can freely give up for whatever reason. Throughout one’s life, it can be quite certain that one may have multiple hobbies at any one time. Hobbies can be seasonal as well as long term. Some people may grow out of their hobbies while others stick with one throughout their lives.
On the other hand, a marriage is mostly a committed decision made by two people and we often hear of ways how couples can “rekindle the fire of romance” in their marriages. For some, it can be very difficult to live with the same person for a long time without any “freshness” or “excitement” when things are monotonous – “same shit different day”. To rekindle the spark, love experts will often advise couples to try something new together like traveling and etc.
So what about a hobby? How do we keep the fire going? How do we rekindle the spark when we no longer find it exciting?
This is the question I asked myself today – one that I found it difficult to answer. How did I sustain and stay in this hobby for the past 7 years?
I believe we should revisit our objectives when we first started in the hobby – back to basics so to speak.
What was the reason that I wanted to keep a rabbit as pet?
Just because we are constantly looking for something “new” and “fresh”, we tend to “evolve” in the hobby.
For instance, some of us may start off being a regular pet owner, then we get hit by the show bug, and the next thing we know, we’re spending 4 hours daily just cleaning after 30 rabbits. With 30 rabbits and a “breeding facility”, we call ourselves a rabbitry and assume the role of a show rabbit breeder.
After attaining all the fame that comes with all the ribbons and trophies, we ask ourselves, “what’s next?”. Like 10 years on in a marriage, “same shit different day”.
Perhaps changing or shifting the expectations can be a way to rejuvenate the hobby thus, we add some colors into our breeding projects or trying different breeds for the matter. In essence, “same shit different day”.
For me personally, it boils down to just two reasons why I keep rabbits as pets and how the passion/spark rekindles year after year.
The Need To Care
Since young, I like caring for animals. I feel a great sense of achievement when I successfully raise rabbits in terms of keeping them healthy and thrive in the environment I provide them with. In the process, I learn the different requirements each individual animal needs to thrive.
They Are Fascinating
Every rabbit is different and their fascinating behaviours are what kept my interest in them from diminishing. Since it takes time to truly understand each individual, that is why we call a hobby one’s favourite past time.
However, just like in a marriage, if one depends solely on the feeling of love, it will never last. A marriage is a conscious decision one makes to love another person. To rekindle the spark of a marriage is not by rejuvenating the feeling but to recommit oneself to love again or to fall in love all over again.
The great feeling of winning do not last forever and is totally out of our control. If by not winning means we should give up the hobby, it will not last very long just like how feelings will never last. Therefore, in whatever hobby one prefers to adopt, for it to last one must rekindle the fire for his/her passion by making a conscious decision to LOVE.
So how do you intend to rekindle the spark for your hobby?
It is another year for Tru-Luv Rabbitry and the only resolution for the New Year 2015 is to continue to love these cute Holland Lop rabbits!
To end this post, I would like to share a video by Marc Mero about what he thinks is important in his life:
Tru-Luv Rabbitry: Quality Holland Lops in Malaysia 