That's right, I Colin Harman have a not so secret kinship with disc golf. Right now you may be asking yourself why you're continuing to read past that first sentence that is ever so riddled with loserdom, but I thank you for fighting back against your every instinct and making it to sentence two. No promises of it getting better from here.
As many of you know, I am a graphic designer and it is one of my favorite things to do. It is such huge blessing and a curse to get to do what I love to do for my everyday job. I get to come to work and do what I would probably be doing for fun anyway. How cool is that? However, the flip side of that is that when I am just 'designing for fun' it feels like I should be working. It's a weird thing, I accept it.
Enter disc golf. Something that has nothing to do with design, or graphics, or computers, or technical things, or things that most people would consider fun—but I love it. I love how mindlessly focused I can be whilst chasing an injection molded piece of plastic around a field (or semi-wooded area) for fun. Sure there's times it's hot as the inside of a cow's posterior (I live in VA, cow posterior is an acceptable form of thermal measurement, don't judge me), but I love it.
What's the draw you ask? I don't know. I think for me it's due in part to the fact that it's a complete departure from my normal responsibilities and work routine. I get to be out in nature, in what God created, and just keeping score to see how I improve overtime. I know I'll never be a pro, win tournaments, or gain sponsorship, but it's mindless enjoyment for me.
I find that it's a healthy thing for me, it helps me do what I should do better, because it give me a chance to walk away, to disconnect, and to have a boundary in life. To most it's just a sport that youth pastors and the kids who play dungeons and dragons get to play to appear semi-athletic, but I love it.
So there's a look into the behind the scenes of my brain. I am a frolfer. What do you do that helps you disconnect from life for a second on a completely human level? Do you have those places that have nothing to do with your normal routine that you can say "this is my hobby, I do it for no other reason than personal enjoyment"? I know how good it is for me, so what is that thing for you?