Hobbies People Picked Up As Adults That Made Them Unexpectedly Happy

Everyone needs something to do in their lives that's purely for joy, not for fame or work or money. It's a relaxing and enjoyable escape and can be a key part of someone's personality and lifestyle.

But sometimes, a new hobby will come in unexpectedly, when we didn't even think anything would come of it.

Curious, Redditor Own_Temperature_7092 asked:

"What's an unexpected hobby you picked up as an adult that's now a major source of happiness for you?"

Houseplant Care

"I didn’t think much of the amount and variety of houseplants my mother had. But now I get it. Planting, cultivating, gardening, watering, the whole thing. It’s just a peaceful hobby. Love it."

- lotus_ink

"I’ve got the basics. Pam, my pony tail palm. She’s so ugly that she’s beautiful. I have Manny and Marley, my money trees. They’re both Kings."

"I have Annie my white Anne fittonia. She’s a drama queen when I don’t water her on time. Acts like she’s wilting up, that diva. I have Paul my parlor palm. He’s a hot mess of leaves. So full of himself."

"And my latest troublemaker, Marlene. She’s a majesty palm, but very fickle. Had to buy a growing light for her because she wanted to make my life difficult by browning on her tips. I’ll set her straight."

"My fiancée has her monsteras and bird of paradise plants, but they aren’t as cool as mine because they don’t even have names! What even is that?!"

"Plants are great."

"EDIT: OMG, I forgot Finley, my fiddle leaf fig! Ugh, he’s gonna be inconsolable in the morning."

- MattyMac27

Cooking

"Cooking. Began as a chore, now a passion."

- Finster4

"It's a love language for me. I felt that I had such little control over the life of my unborn child and pregnant wife during her pregnancy, but one thing I COULD do was make sure she was getting the protein and nutrition she needed."

"I was basically a private chef for a year, from handling cravings, to getting meal prep ready in the freezer for the first month of the baby arriving, so we didn't have to think about cooking. I got good at cooking because I loved my family."

- BadAtDrinking

Volunteer Firefighting

"Firefighting. My local volunteer department posted that they needed help with fundraising. I showed up to help with the weekly bingo game. Got to talking to some of the members, and they were like, 'You're significantly younger than the people who usually show up... you interested in doing operational things?'"

"Five years later, I'm a fully qualified interior firefighter with hazmat and vehicle rescue certifications and can even drive some of the trucks. Absolutely love it."

- alh9h

Walking Routine

"Regularly going on a walk. There is some magical connection in walking and being able to forget bad things so easily."

- Possible_Cream5099

"I've been walking at least an hour a day for about 10 years and can't imagine life without it."

"No headphones for me, just peace. It's great."

- BloomSugarman

"Walking genuinely seems like a cure-all. I tried running, but for me, it doesn’t have the meditative effect that walking does. If I have a problem I can’t solve at work, I walk around the block. Nine times out of ten, a solution comes to me during the walk."

- CommitteeOfOne

"Humans are pursuit predators; we're designed to just keep walking (until our prey essentially collapses from exhaustion). Dogs are pretty much the only other animal that can keep up with us. If you're running, it likely means you were running from danger, so running equals adrenaline. But long, steady walks are where we are in control, so it's more meditative."

"Using ancient biology hacks is great, like how splashing cold water on your face calms you down by activating the vagus nerve, which is called the mammalian diving reflex."

- PhdammoD

Rock Collecting And Tumbling

"I collect cool rocks."

- Accurate-Law-555

"I'm a teenager, and I also collect cool rocks. I have a box in my garage filled with cool rocks. The only reason that they are in the garage is because my mom doesn't like cool rocks taking up any space in my room, which is totally lame."

- Canyonsongwastaken

"Do you tumble? It adds an extra layer to the collecting. I currently have about 10kg of polished rocks and another maybe 30kg that I'm sorting through."

- stevedave84

Beekeeping

"Beekeeping! One of my favorite parts about being a beekeeper is that I have something to make small talk about at parties."

"Love them or hate them, everyone is fascinated by bees."

"Also, bees are really cool on their own."

- jjpearson

"Granny Hobbies"

"All my granny hobbies: sewing, knitting, crocheting. I did sewing out of necessity when I was younger, but now I do it purely for joy."

"My mother did these things, as well. I wish I had done them when I was younger. The good thing is my daughter enjoys hobbies with me, and it's just the best."

- desertwastheapotheos

Bird Watching

"I love birding. The Merlin bird app by Cornell College is a game changer in identifying the species I see. Can't recommend it enough."

- MikeE527

"I love that app! I'll never forget walking in the woods with my wife with the app open, and seeing the bald eagle pop up."

"We got excited, and then a few moments later, it flew out of the tree right in front of us. It was our first bald eagle."

- Shaun32887

"I've started caring for this gang of bluejays that nests in my backyard. I give them peanuts, seeds, and sometimes a little pork or beef fat from work once in a while for a treat."

"As payment, they kill (with extreme prejudice) every wasp nest that attempts to settle in our yard. I found four wasp nest husks on the ground last year, and those are just the ones I've found. Bluejays hate wasps, because they'll bother their young, so they destroy the nests."

- Steeze_Schralper6968

Gaming

"Playing video games. As a grandma, my grandson thinks it's a hoot."

- lilylou12345

"I love this. My kids last year got my mom on Roblox and every night call her to play a few different games. When they have to miss due to sports, school or other life events, they get so bummed out. They love that time trading my phone between each other, having 1x1 time with Grandma."

- BuluisFulu

""One of my favorite streamers is a grandma who plays WoW (World of Warcraft). She’s cool and I really hope to be as good as her when I’m her age."

- pancake_paladin1984

Playing Guitar

"Playing guitar... It's the best rabbit hole I've ever fallen down!"

- 3rdeyenotblind

"I really want this for myself. I'd give anything to sit down with a guitar at the end of a long day and focus on playing instead of everything else."

- soblue955

Creating Art

"I used to absolutely despise having to do any sort of art when I was in school. I’ve grown up and realized that I don’t despise art, I just don’t want anybody to watch me while I’m trying to create something or to worry about being graded when I'm done."

"Now that I’m in my late 20s, I’ve got an art room in the house we bought that is absolutely filled with art supplies. I learned how to airbrush, I decorate cakes in my spare time, and I DIY’d almost my whole wedding. Whenever I’m having a stressful time, art is the answer."

- bexiico

Creative Writing

"Writing! It keeps you sane AND drives you insane at the same time!"

- Puzzleheaded_Pipe502

"Me too! I look forward to it every day!"

- No_Organization_1858

"I got 200 pages of my own little universe going. I don't even care about being published, I just like to sit down with my laptop, open my document, and let the creativity flow like, 'What are my friends doing today?' Bliss."

- Constant_Jackfruit21

Singing

"Singing lessons. I started taking it seriously when I was 43 with great results. I will never be a professional, but I can now capably sing classical repertoire (including opera). I love singing so much."

- snerdie

Creating LEGO Worlds

"Building LEGO sets! I was never really into LEGO as a kid, but in the past few years, I've really found it as a relaxing outlet. I put on some calming music (usually something like 'Shire Ambience') and get to work. My teenagers love it for me and have said to each other, 'Dude, don't bug Mom! It's her LEGO time.'"

- EarthLongjumping4209

Dungeons and Dragons

"D&D. Started during the pandemic, and I've loved it ever since."

"I thought it was some nerdy bulls**t to pass time, but it's a ton of fun to play with friends."

- Successful_Mall3070

"Same. Once you get into it, it’s the ultimate game for nerds. You get to be as nerdy as you want, but it forces you to be social at the same time. I’ve made friends through D&D that have changed my life."

- DJDarwin93

It's amazing to see how many people tried something new, not necessarily expecting anything from it, only to find something that became a vital, enjoyable, and comforting source of joy in their lives. Plus, these sound really fun and might be worth checking out!