Simplify and focus

What I realized this week is that I am 39 years old, and I am never going to get good at the collection of hobbies I have been interested in pursuing.  Therefore, I had better pick one thing and focus on getting good at it.  Here's some of the interests and curiousities buzzing around in my head at any given moment.

• I'd kind of like to learn electronics.
• Or woodworking.
• In fact, I'd love to become a Maker.
• I'm in a Spanish class now, and I'd like to speak it fluently.
• I'd love to grow as a homebrewer.
• I wonder if I could learn to draw?
• I want to work on my writing.
• Could I pick up some songs on the ukulele? Or just get better on the bass?
• I need to break out my telescope more.

Notice I don't even mention running or anything related to software development or project management, my chosen profession.  Being curious and interested in lots of things are great when you are 10, or even 20, when your brain is agile, and you've got time.  I'm staring down the barrel of 40, and I've got a kid and a wife and a house to keep up.  After I come home from work, fix dinner, have family time, clean up from dinner, do some laundry, mow the yard, and feed the dog, where is my time for tinkering with an electronics kit or polishing my writing?  Typically, I don't have the energy to even read a book at the end of the day.

No, all I have time, energy, and a budget for is running.  [See? I bury my leads.  I'll never be a great writer.]  So that is my focus right now. I like reading about running, talking about it, experimenting with it. Running will be my craft. When people ask if I have any hobbies, I will say that I am a runner, a collector of marathon medals. If pressed, I will explain that running, for me, isn't just something I do for exercise.  I run like a stamp collector collects stamps.

This week, I ran well.  Heading into the weekend, I have run 14 miles so far on three days, not to mention one cross-training day.  If I am lucky, I will be able to squeeze in a 10 miler.  However, the weather calls for some serious rain and potential flooding, and we have lots of commitments both days.  Whatever happens, happens; but I will be searching for that running opportunity if I have to run in the middle of the night.