Too much I want to do!
So, typically my pattern is to get obsessed with some subject or activity, get bored with it after a while, and move on to a new obsession. One obsession at a time.
For example, three years ago I was obsessed over buying a car. I visited the forums at edmunds.com every day, and for the first time in my life I actually knew and cared a bit about cars in general.
Before that, I was obsessed for a little while over getting a Palm IIIc (it’s so ancient now!).
Last fall, I was obsessed with money management and personal finance (well, to a limited extent - it does get rather boring pretty quickly).
Recently, I’ve been obsessed with learning about CSS and web standards.
Of course, some of my interests always remain in the picture, such as my music. Though these tend to fluctuate in intensity over time (right now I hardly ever practice my viola even though I know I should).
Right now, though, my obsession with CSS and standards has waned somewhat. I’m still very much interested in the subject, but not to the exclusion of all else. The problem is, I’ve got a bunch of other interests clamoring for their share of my time as well. Yesterday I ordered a couple of books on Amazon, one a book of knitting patterns, and the other a book on personal finance. Pretty disparate subjects, no?
I’m really excited to get the knitting book. My grandma taught me how to knit when I was nine years old, and I’ve kept up with it on and off since then. Recently they’ve been coming out with a wonderful assortment of fancy yarns, which are inspiring me to try new things. I’m hoping that I’ll be able to knit a sweater with relative ease using some bulky yarn, so I don’t get bored before I can finish it (making a sweater with thin yarn and small needles would take forever!) The nice thing about making your own clothes is that, in theory, you should be able to customize them to fit just right. Which would be a big win for me, since I have an awful time finding tops with long enough sleeves. Clothing manufacturers have gotten a lot better about making pants in long sizes, but don’t they realize tall people have long arms as well?
So, I’ve got this knitting I want to do, working on this blog, totally redoing my Dad’s website, playing my viola, reading up on personal finance, playing with my new digital camera, not to mention doing my job and spending time with friends. Right now I’m still in semi-hibernation mode, but as soon as spring hits, I’m going to want to spend a lot more time with people, doing things outside, and then I’ll have even less time. I guess I need to get more efficient at doing everything, or go back to my one-obsession-at-a-time pattern.
March 22nd, 2004 at 9:11 pm
It’s healthy- ever notice how people who are really good at one thing are also pretty boring? And then when they’re around some others who are the same way, that one thing is all they talk about (I bet you’ve been to a musician party or two like that.)
Small needles and thin yarn makes a more professional looking sweater, IMO, Ciao.
March 23rd, 2004 at 2:13 pm
Yeah, but I love musician parties! Sightreading in one room, food and chatting in another… All the music people I know are so cool, though they’re mostly MIT music people, which means they’re going to have other interests besides music, so maybe you’re right. I love talking about music though, so I’d enjoy it even if that was the only subject.
I made a baby sweater for my cousin’s baby a few years ago, using small needles and yarn, and that took a pretty long time. It looked nice (though it had problems with the ends curling under since it was mostly stockinette stitch), but it would probably take me a year or two to actually complete an adult-size sweater like that! I still have a couple half-finished projects lying around anyway… a crocheted afghan and a knitted pillow.
June 26th, 2006 at 2:31 am
Hi Jenni,
I just noticed the same pattern of fluctuating obsessions in mylife as well. And then I found this page.
Do you know why interests fluctuate? I am not able to keep my interest on one thing, and so not able to achieve things. It is not true that I have not achieved anything. I have worked for 10 years and made my money. But that was boring life.
I beleived that if I follow my interests success will automatically smile on me. But I have realized that this is untrue in my case. Because my interests fluctuate, I finish nothing that I start.
Is there anyway to be successfull and still be compassionate to one’s interests?
Ashok