NORWICH — I spent the past weekend spiffing up a disaster of an outdoor dining set that I inherited second-hand from a neighbor about ten years ago. It was dirty, rusty, full of holes, and had definitely seen better days. A normal person would throw it out and get something new. I’ve decided I must not be a normal person. There’s nothing I like better than having a project to fiddle with.

I’ve toyed with a lot of different hobbies over the years: gardening, knitting, crocheting, beading, stained glass, lampworking, sewing, quilting, mosaics, furniture refinishing, hobby farming; if it exists, I’ve tried it. I haven’t been particularly successful at any of it, but I have learned a lot, the most important things being that most anybody can try anything and with enough work, they can figure it out and get better at it.

I can tell what you’re thinking. You’re thinking “that woman needs to calm down and sit in front of the TV and relax once in a while.” I totally get that, and I spend plenty of time vegging, but hear me out. Hobbies have been shown to relieve stress, foster a sense of accomplishment, and help us to develop social connections. Creative hobbies like art have been proven to promote brain activity, improve memory, and increase positive emotions. I don’t know about you, but those are all things I need more of in my life.