Time for something a little more heartfelt than usual.
It’s my belief that social media has breathed new life into hobbies and crafts, but not always a good one.
Hobbies For Validation vs Hobbies For Joy
An idea that runs through the fabric of this site is that hobbies are supposed to be fun.
If you want to take them a little more seriously, you can use them as a source of self-mastery.
That’s it. Don’t let a new hobby become a source of comparison to others, whether good or bad, and don’t let others get validation from trying to compare themselves to you or ‘one up’ you.
The Problem With Craft Groups
There are plenty of supportive people in classes and craft meets, but the time may come when you meet someone who is competitive, unpleasant, or patronising. It’s not just crafts specifically; many groups can be like this.
Do your best to rise above it and separate constructive criticism from someone trying to put you down to feel superior or more skilled (even if they do, objectively, have more experience than you).
Is Any Social Media Good For Hobbies?
For all my derision, I have to admit that social platforms and the internet as a whole can be a very helpful source of information on crafts you want to learn.
I think Pinterest can be great for short video demonstrations and showing completed projects. Instagram and YouTube can also be useful, as can Facebook.
Although it doesn’t happen too often, if you suspect someone is using their platform just for bragging rights, click off! Don’t give them the attention or time of day.
A Culture of External Motivation
I guess my main concern is the way that social media has a habit of turning everything into our lives into ‘likes’ and makes us susceptible to constantly comparing ourselves to others.
This is a particular problem for beginners, who can very quickly become disheartened if, say, their macramé wall hanging is a little wonky and isn’t as pretty or detailed as another person’s.
What they don’t know, of course, is that this other person has 30 years of experience under their belt and lives and breaths the craft. You, on the other hand, are just giving it a spin to see if it’s for you.
Focus on You
If you take anything away from this post, let it be this: you need to focus on yourself, your skill development, and your own enjoyment of a hobby.
Unless they’re lending a helping hand, don’t worry about other people.