Get a hobby.

Miné showed me a video about Jean Baudrillard recently, a bit of a mind blower. It was actually about how The Matrix flubbed the references to his work but anyway, it introduced me to the concept of the hyper-real - how "the world in which we live today is a “hyperreal postmodern” world; one filled with signs referencing little that actually exists".

Honestly I don't really understand the concept but a section in the video talked about how, back in the day, the gap between our reality and our imagination was huge - we used to think up stories about impossible worlds and scenarios. Then as time went on, our imagination started to represent the world we live in - it would extrapolate our reality (sci-fi as a good example). Now, our reality represents our imagination. The gap between the two has blurred to the point of them being indistinguishable. It's an unsettling idea.. It's a little bit earth shattering and to be honest it makes me uncomfortable to think about too much so I don't/won't.

But the reason I'm writing this is that for some reason, when I watched this video, hobbies came to mind.

Being a terminal hobbyist, I've been trying to understand the emotional and intellectual draw of the pastime for years.
On one hand you can take the superficial view: "hobbies are just a way for us to pass the time when we're not working or taking care of life-duties". 
On the other you can paint it with another brush entirely and proclaim: "hobbies are a way for us to slow down, connect to reality and to expand our lives - to break out of the narrow high speed lane that our POSTMODERN world tries to lock us into".

I can only speak for myself but when I'm engaged in a hobby activity, I'm single minded and present. I feel like I'm learning and growing by the minute and I'm interacting with the world in a direct and one dimensional way. Typically I would say that one-dimensionality is something to be avoided but in our daily lives we are assaulted by external stimulation and distraction and pressures from all sides. This multi-dimensionality is out of our control; we aren't at the helm exploring multiple dimensions of our choosing. 

But in focused free-time we can take control. It is empowering to purposefully hone in on one thing. It's even better when you branch out and try a bunch of things - owned multidimensionality.

I was going to try to compare hobbies and side hustles but I'm getting bored of writing this.
What I was going to try to say was that side hustles are currently the more valued extracurricular activities but they mirror the main hustle and are ultimately for the world outside, not for you. There's no push back against the system, they're just a way to put your own stamp on the lane that society forces you into. 

Hobbies are for you.
They're a-systematic opportunities for growth and enjoyment. 

Addendum:
How does this connect to Baudrillard? Our "simulated/simulacra reality" is powered in part by media - mainstream, social, escapist, whatever. A buffet of signs and stimulus assaulting us from every angle. Single minded (or one dimensional) pursuits naturally shield us from this barrage of noise. By getting in touch with one tangible area of focus with no strings attached, we turn down the volume which gives us the room to see pure crystalline life.

Thanks for reading.