Cresting The Hill

Hi Leanne I think it is great to include a variety of activities in our life. I was never a runner at school or athletic in anyway so it was a surprise that I found at 50 I could run and enjoyed it. For me, it is all about doing what we love whether that's walking (which I love doing around the lake where I live) or running, creating or cooking, socialising or being with our family and grandchildren. Life is there to be lived and to make the most of what is on offer. Have a lovely week!

I used to run in my school days, and I thoroughly enjoyed it, especially the cross-country race. Now, at my age, I am in no position to do that, and I restrict myself to long walks. However, I am glad that my son in Sydney has taken to running quite passionately. After taking part in the City 2 Surf race last month, he planning to attempt the half-marathon.
I am not a dabbler now. Probably, after I retire in about a year and a half, I will get a lot more of time to indulge in those small pleasures.

Isn't it good how we're all different and we find our happy place in the world as we get older and have some more time to dabble? I love reading, walking, riding my ebike and lots of other things too, it just adds a lot of joy to my life to do the things that make me happy. As you have found!

I love the validation for living a relaxed life! I too love to be unbusy and go at a slower pace. Hearing the earth’s sounds just resonates with me - cup of coffee on the patio is sheer bliss. Southern heat and all . 😃 love your writing

Your dabbling lifestyle brought the "6 doctors" to mind - sun, water, air, nutrition, exercise, rest. I was never a fan of busy before retirement but there was punching the clock and like you, squeezing the small pleasures in between the have-tos. I don't think of myself as artistic but I am creative in that a recipe is often just a suggestion & the flower beds take on a little different configuration each year. The kitchen & garden are my happy places where I can lose myself. Like you, I love the written word. I threaten to write a book titled Sh%! My Mom Said in the spirit of Sh*t My Dad Says by Justin Halpern. Like - I didn't tell anyone about that until I could laugh like everyone else - when she drove into the house. I'm never bored in retirement even in my unbusy life.

I am definitely a dabbler and am usually up to trying anything once; more if I end up liking it.

Hi Leanne, another dabbler here. My dabbling includes reading, sewing, baking, gardening and occasionally flower arranging but as much as I enjoy all these activities, I don't have an all consuming passion for one so I flit from one to another as the mood takes me. The only thing I do every day is go for a walk which is usually a solo activity as I see it as some quiet time for me.

I too am a dabbler. Like you, I've found a number of things that bring me joy on a daily or weekly or monthly basis. This morning I went solo shelling at one of our beaches - it's one of the things I really enjoy. After the storm and low tide, just after full moon, lots of shells! Now to play with them in crafting.
I too have never been a runner. My hubby was when I met him, as were all his friends, and even my best friend. I joked that my pre-nuptial said, "I will not run". But I've found I enjoy cardio drumming. And beach walks.
Like you, I fill my days with things I enjoy... and that is a wonderful place to be.

Hi Leanne. I love the connections that I made through blogging. That being said, I don't want to make the commitment needed to stay up with other bloggers. I do enjoy reading your blog and some others. I like to read about what other people my age are doing. It makes me feel significant. I also do love dabbling in art. I feel the need to be creative. Thank you for sharing. It's always a pleasure to read your posts. xx Christina Daggett

Hi Leanne, fellow dabbler here. I think that being a dabbler just means that we are positive people who are passionate about experiencing life and we aren't fixed on, or even pursuaded by perfection. I also have a long list of things I am not, but somehow, my days are still filled with joy and I am satisfied with life the way I live it.

Hi Leanne, I'm most definitely a dabbler too! Like you I enjoy my blog and have done since I started it in September 2012 - nearly 11 Years ago now! I've dabbled in mosaics. I crochet. I've done tapestries and long stitches and I've knitted. I've studied photography, and I've discovered I enjoy art - ink and watercolours mostly. I have dreams to make something of my art but no time at the moment so who knows what is ahead. I think it's a wonderful time of life to discover what we like to do and what we're good at. It can be such a surprise! Hope you're having a great week! xo

Inarticulate well being is our goal in life, tbh. I did not know about neurographic art, I had to google. Interesting. It might be something for my Wednesday Club. I did not know that about vespers [post hip replacement so I feel that's a handy fact for motobike riders to know as they age (that they don't have to give up completely!) . However, yesterday I was talking to a friend who got upset at work about everything she hadn't done and her boss and said she needed to think about everything she had done. I told her I was having to remind my sister to stop letting her depression focus on what she wasn't managing and start patting herself on the back for all that she was managing to do each day. So, I like very much that while you open with I'm no a...you finish with a detailed 'success' story of what you are. I think it's a really good way to focus your mind. That coincidently ties in with a pep talk I gave to a friend yesterday (I am as annoying in real life as I am online - ha!)

I feel the same way about running. It's the most effective exercise I've found for getting in shape, but I loathe it. I keep starting a running practice, then slacking off, then feeling guilty, then starting again. I should probably do myself a favor and let it go.

I'm also a dabbler, but I struggle with the idea that I have to be good at something and be productive. Gah!

I loved reading this Leanne, it's made me think that when I retire, I would love to be a dabbler, having a go at a bit of this and a bit of that, depending on what I felt like on the day. My days of being competitive are over now. I really can't even be bothered with being competitive with myself now.

I love this post, Leanne! And I love how you choose to just be yourself and live life on your terms. I'm definitely a dabbler too. I've always had too many interests which means there isn't time to become an expert at any of them! Now with my attempt to change career I have to at least become good at my chosen activity (graphic design) but other than that I'm enjoying dabbling with guitars, cameras and whatnot, and try to not put pressure on myself with it. With all the troubles I've had this year I've relaxed a lot about less important things and I'm determined to just enjoy what there is to enjoy in life.

I really enjoyed reading about your dabblings, Leanne. As we've discussed previously, I am in the process of finding the right balance for me between going all out and kicking back. Dabbling feels good to me, but then every once in awhile I miss the feeling of really pushing myself at something. I have no doubt I'll find my sweet spot with time. And then it might move again, but that's okay too. Part of the joy of midlife and retirement is that you aren't locked into any one speed.

I loved reading this Leanne, and it summed lots of the many parts of you very well....I am not a..... I admit it took me a few goes for me to write "I am an artist" because my picture of what an artist is and me were ill-matched. It was part of my growth in art that I realised I was as entitled to use the term as others. However, black & white thinking me needed some convincing. I am much more at ease with a little bit of this and a bit of that creatively these days: pattern making, paint spreading on paper, designing challenges for me, mandala making and admiring the works of others like you and Min. We are all different but we are all connected creatively. And a blog is a creative space! Thank you so much for linking your blog post to WWandPics this week. See you next week too, I hope, for the link up at Denyse’s Words and Pics! Always appreciative of our connection via blogging! Denyse.

Hi Leanne, isn't it nice not to have to be a professional at all the things we dabble in. Retirement is a gift. I'm glad you get to enjoy it. It looks like you are having a great time. Continue on! :)

Hi Leanne, I like variety and have dabbled in different activities for fun. Keep enjoying retirement and dabbling :) Thank you for your weekend coffee share.

That's so cool that you were featured. I use to be into running but I am not very good at it. I liked it because it was a cheap way to stay in shape but then I stopped one season because it was too hot. Since then I've been more of a gym goer because I like AC.