Some things I learned, especially about myself, in 2022.
It seems obvious, but the time you are given to spend with the cherished people in your life is limited.
Russia is a basket case as a nation and a geopolitical land mine.
Going for a brisk walk is really energizing, physically and mentally. Any walk is better is better than no walk.
When people asked me “do you have any hobbies?” I used to struggle with the answer. I do computing stuff for work, so more computer stuff doesn’t come across as a real hobby. I’ve retired from playing Ultimate Frisbee and don’t do much anything else in terms of organized physical activity. On the sideline, I’m a recovering sports watchaholic (hand up admission to obsession with Manchester City football) and trying to minimize tube time as much as possible. Nobody cares about my fantasy team 🤣.
In 2022 I realized cooking is my hobby. An extremely slow hobby, currently focused on the basics and comfort foods, picking up a recipe or two a year. I do enjoy the challenge of prep and execution of a dish that I’ll actually like to eat, not to mention the satisfaction as well if others say they like my food. Definitely no pretensions to being a foodie though.
I keep the process simple. Pick straightforward, minimalist recipes (The New York Times Cooking App, among others, is pretty good for this), execute the recipe multiple times until I understand it, get some decent results possibly with improvisation, and then move on to something new.