by Maria C Collins

Created on: April 05, 2009   Last Updated: November 25, 2009

We hustle and bustle through life so fast these days. It is easy to forget the importance of, and the necessity for, relaxation. Relaxation is not a luxury but a basic human need. Hobbies are a brilliant way of escaping the everyday world and taking time for yourself. Whether you enjoy gardening, walking, bird watching, mountain climbing or something quieter such as stamp collecting, needlecrafts or dolls houses is irrelevant so long as you enjoy it. Hundreds of studies have shown that people who have a hobby are happier, more relaxed and less anxious people.

I enjoy my hobbies and they help me to cope with the stresses and strains of life and living.

I love word puzzles and crosswords and, in fact, words generally. I love to find out their origins and I enjoy languages, I speak French reasonably, a little Italian, a few words of bad Spanish and a tiny bit of Russian.

My love of words naturally flows into a love of reading. I read anything and everything except sloppy love stories. Non-fiction or fiction I am not fussy, a really good story or a meaty biography and I am happy. My favorite books are many but amongst them would be the cricket commentator Brian Johnston's auto-biographical book, I hate cricket and know nothing about it but the book was so funny. Fictional favorites would include Jean M Auel's Earth's Children series.

Writing is something I have done since I learned how to write, but that was extremely private and personal until recently. I never showed anyone my scribbles; I had joined Helium for many months before I plucked up courage to post anything at all.

Crochet is another very relaxing hobby and something that I have done since I was fifteen. Something about the rhythm of the hook and yarn seems to smooth away agitation, worry, anger or anguish. Somehow as the item comes together problems and difficulties are thought through. I have made all kinds of things, Afghans, toys, baby clothes, men's and ladies' cardigans and sweaters, children's ponchos, the list is endless. Like most crocheters, I rarely keep anything I make, but give it away as presents.

Board games are another passion, I love scrabble, trivial pursuits, Monopoly, cluedo (Clue), all kinds of board games providing they have a good game play and require thoughtful play. I like chess too but I am not a good player.

The countryside is another passion. I now live in the beautiful countryside of South West France and love observing the wildlife around my home. I count it as a very special treat that I often see deer, red squirrels, buzzards and many other animals from my living room window.

Country walks often clear the mind and the peace of the countryside seems to enter and calm the soul when one is anxious or agitated. Walking can help one to think things through.

History is another great interest, and I love to read about the past. I also like to see the past in the form of Antiques, collectables and visiting old buildings.

Travelling, observing other cultures and tasting the food of other cultures are another interest, seeing how the other half live. Which naturally leads onto cookery, I try to reproduce the foods that I taste on my travels. I also like baking and making jams and preserves.

These are my hobbies and pastimes, they help me relax and make me a better person to live with. They give me what I need to cope with life. We all need an oasis of calm and relaxation in this mad world.

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