Last year I signed up for adult swim lessons after being too afraid to learn my whole life, I’m 28. I did lessons in August and December-March twice a week after work. I loved the ritual it turned into especially after a long workday. I am now at the point where I don’t need lessons, I just need to practice on my own and I love swimming. I feel like I need to make up for lost time of all those years I didn’t know how. However, I don’t have a pool so I have to go to the gym pool which isn’t the same and I find myself not having the same motivation as when I was in weekly classes I was paying for. I also resort to scrolling on my phone for leisure and am trying to cut back. Thanks for sharing, Jenny, reading this was a good reminder to motivate me to get off my phone and go back to my healthy hobbies!
Been an empty-nester for several years, but only in retirement for a couple years has opened up even more time to pursue my many hobbies and interests. Quilting, knitting, gardening, e-bikes, painting class. The freedom to fill my day’s schedule with whatever I want is thrilling. Just yesterday as I was pruning tomato plants in my garden, I paused to soak in the feeling of simple joy I felt.
I’ll be an empty nester come August, and I’m also just looking forward to more time doing the things I already know I love to do: getting outside, exercising, reading, and writing. I’m also looking forward to having more time and energy to be in community with others.
FYI- I’m new to your newsletter and it brings me so much simple joy each week. Thank you for sharing!
I played tennis as youngster and in high school, and I got back into it about 8 years ago. Since then, I’ve made new friends, moved up in ranking, competed in leagues and joined a clinic taught by an amazing female pro, which was a game changer (literally!). Last weekend my team came in 2nd in sectionals, at which I won 3 out of 3 matches.
Tennis takes me out of wherever I am that day and concentrates my attention for 1.5 hours solely on improving technique and being in my body. And doubles tennis can be as cerebral as chess! It’s a blast.
After reading Jessica Pan's book, Sorry I'm Late, I Didn't Want to Come, my adult sons and I took a Level 1 Improv class. It wildly exceeded my expectations for fun and personal growth. We've taken through Level 4 and are waiting to hear if we'll get in to the Level 5 class.
Bookmarking this one for the pickle recipes. I’ve been using your pickled red onions recipe for years, it’s absolutely a family staple. Since we moved out of the city a few years ago (which coincided with our only child going off to college- I guess we did the opposite of what you did), I’ve finally been able to pursue gardening.
My mom was an amazing quilter (who started tap-dancing again with her best friend at 70!) After she died, I inherited a lot of her fabric, but don't have the patience for 'real' quilting, so I'm making a patchwork picnic quilt, where I hand-sew beautiful squares together while watching TV or chatting to my kids. It keeps my hands busy, it's beautiful, it connects me to my mom, and the end result will (one day) be so loved.
Oooh I have your cookbook and stuff for the zuke pizza and bean tostadas. I bought it but haven’t cracked into it yet. Thanks for the starting inspo (like the first story in a choose your own adventure book!)
Recently tried Sashiko mending on a pair of jeans and surprisingly loved it. I didn’t do it exactly by the book but I’m super happy with how it turned out.
I’m not yet an empty nester but have finally waded out of the toddler years after three kids close together. I’ve started playing the piano again after nearly 20 years away! It’s so much fun to pick up old songs I played in high school. And I love that my kids (who are new piano players) see me doing it for fun!
I have become absolutely obsessed in my empty nesting world with........nesting. And bees. Native plants have become my daily joy: identifying them, planting them, encouraging others to plant them. In a world where it often feels like we can do so little, this feels like a daily contribution. If you haven't you must read Bringing Nature Home or Nature's Best Hope by Doug Tallamy. These are life changing books.
Now that I know longer pay for my kids lessons/enrichment activities (they're almost off the family payroll completely!) I picked up the flute, which I played until I hit high school and decided it was no longer cool. A shocking amount of technique has come back. My goal is to get good enough to play in a community orchestra-kinda thing. In the meantime, it's fun to meet in person with my instructor each week and see my improvement.
Learning to draw in procreate has been a new fun hobby. Also, organizing a neighborhood book drive and creating a “book fair” experience at a school where most of the students are housing insecure has been the most rewarding experience this year. The kids and parents got to “shop” for books to read this summer.
I'm always a fan of a good tostada and love your additions of snap peas and corn.
I'm also feeling very inspired by reading all these comments. My youngest leaves for college in August, so we are very soon to be empty nesters. I did start golfing more with my husband this past year. Sometimes it brings me joy, but I do find I'm pretty immersed in the game when we're playing. I like the challenge of it and decided to take some lessons and maybe join a women's league in the fall.
I always default to playing the piano or guitar or just crafting as my solo hobbies. These are much more calming hobbies.
Last year I signed up for adult swim lessons after being too afraid to learn my whole life, I’m 28. I did lessons in August and December-March twice a week after work. I loved the ritual it turned into especially after a long workday. I am now at the point where I don’t need lessons, I just need to practice on my own and I love swimming. I feel like I need to make up for lost time of all those years I didn’t know how. However, I don’t have a pool so I have to go to the gym pool which isn’t the same and I find myself not having the same motivation as when I was in weekly classes I was paying for. I also resort to scrolling on my phone for leisure and am trying to cut back. Thanks for sharing, Jenny, reading this was a good reminder to motivate me to get off my phone and go back to my healthy hobbies!
Yay for tostadas! What’s your preferred way to go from tortillas to tostadas?
Been an empty-nester for several years, but only in retirement for a couple years has opened up even more time to pursue my many hobbies and interests. Quilting, knitting, gardening, e-bikes, painting class. The freedom to fill my day’s schedule with whatever I want is thrilling. Just yesterday as I was pruning tomato plants in my garden, I paused to soak in the feeling of simple joy I felt.
I’ll be an empty nester come August, and I’m also just looking forward to more time doing the things I already know I love to do: getting outside, exercising, reading, and writing. I’m also looking forward to having more time and energy to be in community with others.
FYI- I’m new to your newsletter and it brings me so much simple joy each week. Thank you for sharing!
I played tennis as youngster and in high school, and I got back into it about 8 years ago. Since then, I’ve made new friends, moved up in ranking, competed in leagues and joined a clinic taught by an amazing female pro, which was a game changer (literally!). Last weekend my team came in 2nd in sectionals, at which I won 3 out of 3 matches.
Tennis takes me out of wherever I am that day and concentrates my attention for 1.5 hours solely on improving technique and being in my body. And doubles tennis can be as cerebral as chess! It’s a blast.
After reading Jessica Pan's book, Sorry I'm Late, I Didn't Want to Come, my adult sons and I took a Level 1 Improv class. It wildly exceeded my expectations for fun and personal growth. We've taken through Level 4 and are waiting to hear if we'll get in to the Level 5 class.
Bookmarking this one for the pickle recipes. I’ve been using your pickled red onions recipe for years, it’s absolutely a family staple. Since we moved out of the city a few years ago (which coincided with our only child going off to college- I guess we did the opposite of what you did), I’ve finally been able to pursue gardening.
My mom was an amazing quilter (who started tap-dancing again with her best friend at 70!) After she died, I inherited a lot of her fabric, but don't have the patience for 'real' quilting, so I'm making a patchwork picnic quilt, where I hand-sew beautiful squares together while watching TV or chatting to my kids. It keeps my hands busy, it's beautiful, it connects me to my mom, and the end result will (one day) be so loved.
Oooh I have your cookbook and stuff for the zuke pizza and bean tostadas. I bought it but haven’t cracked into it yet. Thanks for the starting inspo (like the first story in a choose your own adventure book!)
I got certified at 69 years of age to teach Pilates classes on the reformer and do so 3 days a week!
Recently tried Sashiko mending on a pair of jeans and surprisingly loved it. I didn’t do it exactly by the book but I’m super happy with how it turned out.
I’m not yet an empty nester but have finally waded out of the toddler years after three kids close together. I’ve started playing the piano again after nearly 20 years away! It’s so much fun to pick up old songs I played in high school. And I love that my kids (who are new piano players) see me doing it for fun!
I have become absolutely obsessed in my empty nesting world with........nesting. And bees. Native plants have become my daily joy: identifying them, planting them, encouraging others to plant them. In a world where it often feels like we can do so little, this feels like a daily contribution. If you haven't you must read Bringing Nature Home or Nature's Best Hope by Doug Tallamy. These are life changing books.
Now that I know longer pay for my kids lessons/enrichment activities (they're almost off the family payroll completely!) I picked up the flute, which I played until I hit high school and decided it was no longer cool. A shocking amount of technique has come back. My goal is to get good enough to play in a community orchestra-kinda thing. In the meantime, it's fun to meet in person with my instructor each week and see my improvement.
Learning to draw in procreate has been a new fun hobby. Also, organizing a neighborhood book drive and creating a “book fair” experience at a school where most of the students are housing insecure has been the most rewarding experience this year. The kids and parents got to “shop” for books to read this summer.
I'm always a fan of a good tostada and love your additions of snap peas and corn.
I'm also feeling very inspired by reading all these comments. My youngest leaves for college in August, so we are very soon to be empty nesters. I did start golfing more with my husband this past year. Sometimes it brings me joy, but I do find I'm pretty immersed in the game when we're playing. I like the challenge of it and decided to take some lessons and maybe join a women's league in the fall.
I always default to playing the piano or guitar or just crafting as my solo hobbies. These are much more calming hobbies.