Pursuing your favorite hobbies is important for your wellbeing

Close your eyes.

Think back to when you were a child and took your first trip to a movie theatre. What comes to mind? Do you remember what movie you saw or who took you? Do you remember how you felt?

I was 6 or 7 years old when I was taken to the movies for the first time.

I remember the red velvet seats. They felt so luxurious (even though they were not that comfortable compared to today's lounge chairs; after all, this was back in the mid-70s, when the chairs were small with wooden frames). Wow, these chairs recline! I had never seen a chair that reclines. Will it tip over?

I remember the smell. The smell of cigarettes, combined with the smell of stale air that can only be found in old buildings that haven't been aired out in a long, long time.

I remember the stickiness of the floor. There were some random bits of food stuck on the floor. Wow, did someone party here? What is about to take place here?

When the lights dimmed and the huge velvet curtains opened, I was mesmerized. I found myself transported into a different world. A world much larger than I had known until then. A world that seemed so exciting. A world that I wanted to explore.

Ever since that first visit to the movies, I have loved going to the movies!

Even at 51, I am still at heart that little girl at the movies. That little girl who's in awe when the lights dim and the curtains open.

The movies have exposed me to and taught me about lives that are very different from mine. They have broadened my mind and made me curious to learn more about different people, different cultures, different countries.

I love the movies. For me, a movie theatre is a happy place. I go to the movies nearly every week.

That is ... until the pandemic hit. Movie theaters closed their doors for many months. Movie production came to a near halt.

For 17 months, I was without one of my favorite pastime activities - going to the movies. And I couldn't find a good alternative. I tried streaming movies at home, but the magic wasn't there. When movie theaters slowly reopened, I was too scared to go. After all, it's not worth my life.

I still don't think going to the movies is worth my life, but I have come to realize that it is worth going for my mental wellbeing. I was sad without the movies. I missed them.

What if there was a safe way to bring this favorite activity of mine back into my life?

So, this Monday, I decided to go to a movie for the first time in 17 months.

After all, I'm fully vaccinated. And I was taking precautions: I picked the slowest day of the week for movie theaters (Monday), a show time in the middle of the day (1:30 PM), and I came prepared with a face mask and hand sanitizer.

Let me tell you: it was magical!

As soon as the lights dimmed and the curtains opened, it felt just like the first time I went to the movies when I was 6 or 7 years old. I was in awe and happy to be transported into a different world.

When I left the movies, I felt like a big weight had been lifted. The weight of COVID that had taken some simple pleasures away from me (movies and traveling).

For those two hours at the movie theatre, the world seemed normal.

By the way, there were only 4 other people in the movie theatre. We were spread out throughout the theatre, so it felt like I had the place to myself and I felt very safe.

So why am I telling you all this?

Because I want you to think about your favorite activities that you gave up when the pandemic hit.

If not doing them is taking a toll on you, then maybe think about safe ways to bring one or a few of them back into your life. Can you make some adjustments so they are relatively safe to do? Safe enough that you feel comfortable giving them a try?

If you are fully vaccinated, starting to take some minor risks of exposure in order to feel happy might be what you need.

It's certainly what I needed.

I realized recently that I had put my life on hold for the past 17 months. I know some of you have done a much better job than me in keeping up a more normal life. I haven't. I have basically shut myself inside my home for the past 17 months, with daily walks in nature to keep me sane.

It's time to slowly come out of hibernation...

I want to make clear that I am NOT telling you to start living as if the pandemic is over. It's not over! And because many people choose not to get vaccinated and others live recklessly, some areas of the world are getting worse.

Have you been super cautious over the past 17 months (like me), are fully vaccinated, and could benefit from a mood booster?

If that is you, then it might be time to add some fun activities back into your life.

I would love to hear from you. How is this resonating with you? What are some activities that you've stopped doing because of the pandemic and might consider bringing back?

Best,

Christine

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Wellness & Yoga with Christine

Inspiring you to bring wellness into your life and providing you with the tools to do so.​​​​