Patricia Oyson-Matthan

Category: Brain

  • “Isn’t that too basic for you?”

    Today I attended the first day of a four-day Writing and Study Skills at Wintec. (I found out about it by obsessively clicking on all the links on the Wintec website in anticipation for starting a Bachelor of Counselling!)

    I was hemming and hawing about whether to sign up. I wasn’t sure what would be covered. Someone suggested that it might be ‘too basic’ for me. That comment unintentionally solidified my decision to sign up.

    Why?

    I try to approach life from the mindset of a master craftsman (to borrow from Cal Newport. That means I believe that I must relentlessly brush up on my skills and continue to improve on them. Part of that process is perfecting (or at least trying to improve upon) my skills as well as the fundamentals thereof.

    As someone with nearly a decade in the public sector in a variety of challenging roles, it can be argued that brushing up on time management, vocabulary development or basic tech skills is ‘too basic’. Sure, I can take that approach.

    On the other hand, I can approach these topics (and many others) with humility. What could I learn? What can I re-learn? What might have I forgotten? What could I share that will help someone else on their journey? What might someone share that I’ve never heard before?

    I am delighted that I signed up for this course and showed up. While a lot of the material was very familiar to me, I also got to reinforce ideas that I had forgotten, practice concepts that you rarely get the opportunity to get feedback on, as well as adopt a learner’s or beginner’s mindset. I also got to experience the manaaki from Wintec’s Academic Support team, and I am thoroughly impressed thus far.

    If prima ballerinas practice their plies at the height of their career… If master violinists practice their scales… If top tennis players practice their serves…

    Then knowledge workers cannot be above practicing the fundamentals.

    Basic isn’t too basic. The basics are the foundation upon which your skills rely on. So we need to get it right.

    That’s how I see it anyway! Looking forward to the rest of the course (and to finally starting on my new adventure!!!)

    Ngā mihi, Pat Oyson-Matthan

  • Hobby-go-round

    Hobby-go-round

    Riding the Hobby-go-round

    As a multi-passionate individual, I have often beaten myself up for not being consistent. I’d ask myself "Why can’t I stick to this ONE thing? Everyone else says to be disciplined and consistent!" I would beat myself with a metaphoric hammer, angry that I was failing.

    Then I heard someone say I was just riding the Hobby-go-round.

    Suddenly, my changing passions weren’t ‘bad‘.

    This was a whimsical aspect of being me. My hobbies were like the horses that you can ride on a carousel. Sometimes they just weren’t available. But eventually I can get on them again.

    Looking at hobbies as a Hobby-go-round changed a couple things for me.

    • I wasn’t a bad person for having multiple hobbies and not keeping up with all of them all the time.
    • Hobbies can stay dormant for some time — even a long time — and that’s okay. The hobby horse can suddenly become available when the time is right.
    • Knowing that the hobby horses are only available to ride for an unknown amount of time, my job is to use my enthusiasm wisely.
    Image of a carousel with different colours as a graphic representation of a graph depicting 'Enthusiasm for a hobby over time'

    Rules for riding a hobby horse

    1. Know that this go-around on the Hobby-go-round will end. That is okay. Rides end. I can go again.
    2. Knowing that the ride will end, plan to make your exit. This is a mindset shift.
    3. Make it easy to get off the ride. Try not to make hasty plans that will upend my life because I am convinced I will be forever devoted to this hobby (seriously, don’t do it). Identify possible end points, so I feel like I’m making progress. These can be milestone-based or process-based.
    4. Leave a record — What do I need to do to feel like I’ve spent my time with this hobby productively? Probably make something. Take notes, make art, dance—this gives me a positive memento from the time I spent on the hobby and also helps the hobby horse be available for another ride sooner.
    5. Reflect on what the hobby is teaching me. Based on what I’m learning from the hobby right now, how might I be able to incorporate it in simple ways when I’m no longer obssessed with this hobby?
    6. Reflect on my other hobbies. Based on other hobbies I’ve enjoyed before, what can I borrow and apply to this hobby?
    7. Appreciate the time on the hobby horse. It won’t last forever. Enjoy!

    If we go back to the metaphor, these rules are about safely riding the hobby horse and making the hobby horse more awesome and exciting to ride on next time. 💗

    My current hobby horse is solo roleplaying, if you couldn’t tell.

    So I’ve been making the most of my energy and interest. I’ve been looking at how this hobby relates to others, creating things out of joy (not obligation) and trying to apply restraint (no intense shopping sprees or signing up for year-long obligations). 💗 Maybe I’ll keep playing solo every day for the rest of my life, or maybe I’ll only play once a year when this phase ends. Who knows? Whatever may come, I will make the most of this time.

    My hobbies come in cycles and fluctuation. And that’s okay.

    This post is an article for the November round-up of IndieWeb Carnival. Every month, a member of the IndieWeb provides a topic for everyone to write a post on. This month, Alex wants us to reflect on cycles and fluctuations, which is exactly why I’m talking about the Hobby-go-round. 🥰