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I don’t remember anything specific about the movie Renaissance Man, aside from the fact that we were watching part of it during high school history class and I don’t think it really tied into anything being taught in the class. And I’m pretty sure Robin Williams was in it. I did, however, take away the idea of a Renaissance Man… and I liked it, and at that moment I thought it’d be a good thing to strive for.
My friend Jill, a multi-talented photographer/crafter/amazing cook/gracious party host, wanted someone to take gardening classes with her. When my family lived in upstate New York, my pastry chef-turned-Realtor dad grew vegetables in a huge 30x50ft garden, and also had probably 20-30 fruit trees in a large orchard AND we had several flower beds on our 3+ acres, all beautiful and blooming and producing so much we had to give it away. While that’s a great example of what can be done in more ideal growing conditions, it also stands as a great example of what amazing and productive things can be done in your spare time. At this point, after gardening classes with Jill, Andy and I have a compost bin in our patio/yard space and somewhat less vague plans than a few months ago on how and what and when to plant in this tiny space to be able to enjoy homegrown vegetables in the desert.
It’s easy to lead a more well-rounded life when things are going well with your relationships, your job, your finances and all the other big determining factors of life. When one or more of those areas are suffering, that’s when it’s a struggle to find the energy to do more than just exist in your own life. That’s when I think it’s most important to push and fill your time with something enjoyable and give yourself something to look forward to, to help through those down times. I know I’m lucky to be in the radio industry and to never have been laid off, to have a freelance career that continues to grow even in a down economy, and to live in Phoenix and be on the positive side of a mortgage in a city ridden with foreclosures. I have a great husband, wonderful friends, a career and job I enjoy, pets I love and hobbies I can delve into and share with friends. I expect myself to live that Renaissance woman life in times like this.
I hope to share some of these interests on this blog. Moreso, I hope to get back in touch with a lot of the things I enjoy and use this blog to help me remember to do that. I have half a closet, several drawers and boxes full of hobbies I’ve set aside and seldom visited. I don’t know that I’ll be cross-stitching or quilting or doing any still-life drawings this week, but I hope to bring more of my hobbies out of storage and enjoy them in the time I certainly can make in my day. Being a voice over talent is an enjoyable part of my day, but there’s more to life than how you make your living.