What Is Your Hobby? | English & Chill with Jennie | English Podcast – YouTube Dictation Transcript & Vocabulary

1.[Music] hi there Jenny here let me ask you something simple what's your hobby what do you do just because you enjoy it not because it's your job not because someone told you to not even because you're good at it but simply because it brings you joy if you answered that question quickly that's great but if your mind went a little blank that's okay too you're not alone you see as we grow older many of us forget how to just enjoy something life gets busy work takes over we try to be productive all the time and slowly hobbies those little things that made us feel alive get pushed to the side but I believe this your hobby is not a luxury it's a lifeline in this episode let's take a moment to pause breathe and explore something beautifully simple why having a hobby matters and how it might be the key to reconnecting with your inner self i'll also share a few ideas if you feel like you don't have a hobby right now maybe you used to love something but forgot maybe you've never thought about it much or maybe you're just ready for a new start this isn't just about relaxing or passing time it's about finding joy in small things about creating space to be fully you even if just for 15 minutes a day and along the way as always we'll practice your English with calm clear and natural speech so wherever you are right now on your walk cleaning your room or simply lying down and listening I invite you to come with me on this journey let's slow down a bit let's remember what it feels like to enjoy something just because are you ready let's begin when we hear the word hobby we often think of something small something optional like a bonus activity when you have extra time but the truth is hobbies are not just about passing time they're about healing growing and reconnecting with yourself let me explain have you ever noticed how your mind feels lighter after doing something you love maybe it's drawing dancing playing the piano taking care of your plants or even solving puzzles you're not doing it to earn money you're not doing it to impress anyone you're just in the moment fully present this state when you forget about time when your brain is quiet and focused has a name it's called flow flow is when your mind and body are doing something together with ease it feels peaceful even powerful and hobbies are one of the best ways to enter this flow you don't need to be an expert you don't need talent you just need interest and a bit of time let me tell you a quick story a few years ago one of my students was going through a tough time she was overwhelmed with work trying to study English and felt like nothing was improving one day she told me she used to love baking when she was younger but stopped because she thought it was a waste of time i asked her "What if it's not a waste what if it's the medicine you need right now?" She started again not to sell cakes not to post on Instagram just for herself and something shifted she smiled more she became more patient with herself her English learning even improved because her mind was calmer and more open that's the power of a hobby it reminds you that you're more than your goals that you're allowed to do things just for fun in a world that celebrates being busy productive and successful having a hobby is almost a quiet rebellion it's like saying "I choose to enjoy this moment i choose to do something kind for myself." So if you have a hobby protect it nurture it let it be your secret garden and if you don't don't worry we'll explore that next but for now just remember this your hobby is not useless it's how your soul breathes now let's talk honestly what if you don't have a hobby right now what if when someone asks "What do you enjoy doing in your free time?" Your mind goes blank or you feel a little embarrassed because you're not sure that's more common than you think many adults feel this way we get so focused on being responsible doing our job taking care of others surviving the day that we forget to play to explore to be curious again but here's the good news it's never too late to find a hobby and it's totally okay to start from zero let's start here what makes you lose track of time what activity makes you forget to check your phone what makes you feel peaceful even if just for a moment that could be your clue you don't need to have some big answer like "I love painting oil landscapes," or "I build robots." It can be small really small maybe you enjoy organizing your bookshelf or doodling random things or learning how to cook a new dish that counts that's something and if you still feel stuck here's a tip try without pressure try five random things this month and let go of the idea of being good at them just ask yourself "Does this feel good in my body in my heart?" Here are some easy ideas to explore go for a quiet walk and take pictures of things you like try adult coloring books or just draw whatever comes to mind plant something and watch it grow day by day learn a few basic chords on the guitar or ukulele make a little playlist of songs that make you feel something then dance to it try making your own podcast or voice diary just for fun write three sentences a day about how you feel no grammar rules needed you see hobbies don't have to look impressive they don't have to become your side business they don't even have to be consistent they just have to be yours a hobby is not about showing the world what you do it's about feeling something inside again joy peace excitement or even just curiosity and sometimes the process of searching is already healing so if you're listening right now and thinking "I want a hobby but I don't know where to start." Take a breath you don't have to figure it all out today start with one moment one experiment one step toward joy because even wandering can be part of the way home now let's get practical you may be thinking "I want to have a hobby but I just don't have time." And again I get it life is full work family school chores it never ends but here's a gentle reminder your time is not only for responsibilities it's also for your soul you don't need hours every day you don't need to escape to the mountains or take a long vacation you just need small pockets of peace and the permission to use them for yourself let's start simple could you give yourself 10 to 15 minutes a day that's about the length of one episode of a short show or the time we spend scrolling through social media without noticing imagine replacing just a tiny bit of that time with something that feeds your heart you could set a little hobby window right after dinner or in the early morning when the world is still quiet you could even try the weekend hour where every Saturday or Sunday you give yourself one hour to explore something you love or want to try it doesn't have to be perfect it just has to be yours another tip make your hobby easy to start if you want to write keep a notebook by your bed if you want to draw place your sketchbook on the table where you have coffee if you want to dance have your playlist ready when your tools are visible and accessible your hobby feels like an invitation not a chore and don't be afraid to protect that time you're allowed to say "This is my moment just me and this little thing I love." It's not selfish in fact when you take care of your inner self you bring more calm more joy and more balance to everything else you do remember you don't need talent you need time you don't need hours you need intention you don't need a plan you just need to begin let go of the idea that hobbies must be productive you don't need to monetize them you don't need to post them online let it be quiet let it be personal you're not wasting time you're watering your inner garden and with just a few minutes a day something beautiful might start to grow so here we are we've talked about what hobbies really mean how they help us heal and how even the smallest ones can bring us back to ourselves but before we end I want to leave you with one last thought something simple but powerful allow yourself to be a beginner yes a beginner someone who doesn't have all the answers someone who's not very good at something yet someone who's simply trying because somewhere along the way many of us started to believe that we need to be perfect right away that if we're not skilled or fast or productive it's not worth doing but that's not true being a beginner is a beautiful thing it means you're open curious alive it means you're stepping into something new with courage not ego think about children they draw with two colors they sing off key they fall when learning to ride a bike but they smile they laugh they try again somewhere inside you that child is still there quietly waiting for permission so give it let yourself try new things without fear let yourself make messy art let yourself sing badly in the shower let yourself plant something and forget to water it let yourself write a page full of spelling mistakes let yourself just begin you don't need to share it with anyone you don't need applause you don't need to be great you just need to be real sometimes a hobby is less about the activity and more about the relationship you're building with yourself a place where you feel safe where you can breathe where you don't have to prove anything and from that place beautiful things grow slowly quietly in your own time so if you've been feeling disconnected lately if life has felt heavy noisy or rushed maybe it's time to come home to something soft and simple pick up the pen open the piano cover put on your dancing socks touch the soil record your voice or just sit and listen to music like you used to let this be your gentle reminder you are allowed to begin again you are allowed to enjoy something just because and when this episode ends maybe just maybe you'll try something new or return to something old or simply sit in the quiet letting inspiration whisper to you your hobby is waiting and so is the most peaceful version of you thanks for spending this time with me until next time Jenny [Music]