Would you consider swimming to be a self-involved hobby?
I read an article that said.
"He may be a workaholic, a womanizer, hooked on TV, caught in addictions or self-involved hobbies."
THE BOOMERANG RELATIONSHIP
Passivity, Irresponsibility and Resulting Partner Anger
"If you don't take care of your body where will you live?"
There is nothing wrong with having a hobby you enjoy. It's even better yet when it keeps you fit, healthy, and enables you to meet and socialize with others who have the same interest!
To paraphrase my mother (and Forrest Gump's mother), "self-involved is as self-involved does." Sure, some swimmers are self-involved, but so are some runners, and body-builders, and rowers, and runners, and artists. I think a person who tends that way is going to be overly-occupied with self and with performance no matter what activity he or she engages in. I don't think swimming brings out the selfish in people any more than any other activity does...
or maybe I'm too self-involved to notice :)
Definition of hobby (not the horse)from Dictionary.com:
"an activity or interest pursued for pleasure or relaxation and not as a main occupation..."
Well, I sure don't make money at it so it's not my occupation....
Definition of self-interest from same source:
"regard for one's own interest or advantage, esp. with disregard for others."
Well, I coach kids, and you have to regard others if you hope to be an effective coach, so....
I guess I don't see swimming as a "self-interested hobby"
I personally don't think of swimming as a self-involved hobby - it's so social!! (AFTER the set, I mean, & in the locker rooms, at the meets etc.), but maybe you feel guilty about how much time you spend in the pool compared to how much time you spend on your family or S.O.?
I asked my Bishop if the amount of time I spend swimming made me guilty of "worshiping false gods" like some of the people I know accuse me of, and he asked me if I felt guilty about swimming; and said that if you feel guilty about doing something, then it probably is a "sin" for you, even if that same activity is not a "sin" for someone else. So, if you feel guilty about spending "too much" time in the pool, maybe you need to reconsider your time allotments. Or, you can take the girl to the pool with you! :)
(Sorry if you're offended by the religious overtones here, I didn't know how else to express it, and I certainly don't mean to preach.)
Even though my husband wants no part of swimming, he's very supportive of my swimming. I also use swimming as a way to control my anxiety, so he actually encourages me to swim everyday. I'm actually not a very nice person, if I don't get my daily swim.
I don't see how taking an hour or so a day for yourself is selfish. I just feel so much more centered after a swim, and I'm able to focus on my family and tasks so much better afterward.
