a hobby can be almost anything a person likes to do in his spare time. hobbyists raise pets, build model ships, hunt animals, climb mountains, raise flowers, fish, ski, skate,and swim. hobbyists also paint pictures, attend concerts and plays, and perform on musical instruments.they collect everything from books to butterflies, and from shells to stamps.
people take up hobbies because these activities offer enjoyment, friendship,knowledge and relaxation. sometimes they even yield financial profit. anyone, rich or poor, old or young, sick or well, can follow a satisfying hobby.
hobbies can help a person's mental and physical health.doctors have found that hobbies are valuable in helping patients recover from physical or mental illness. hobbies give bedridden or wheel chair patients something to do, and provide interests that keep them from thinking about themselves.
many hospitals treat patients by having them take up interesting hobbies or pastimes.
in early times, most people were too busy making a living to have many hobbies. but some persons who had leisure did enjoy hobbies. the ancient egyptians played games with balls made of wood or pottery. people today have more time than ever before for hobbies. machines have reduced the amount of time they must spend on their jobs. those who have developed hobbies never need to worry about what to do with their newly-found leisure hours.
william osier, a famous canadian doctor, expressed the value of hobbies by saying, "no man is really happy or safe without a hobby."
論愛好
愛好可以是一個人閒暇時想做的幾乎任何事情。有愛好的人飼養寵物、搭建船模、打獵、爬山、養花、釣魚、滑雪、滑冰還有游泳。有愛好的人還作畫、聽音樂會、欣賞戲劇、演奏樂器。他們收集從書本到蝴蝶，從貝殼到郵票的任何東西。
人們從事這些業餘愛好是因為這些活動可以帶來愉快、友誼、知識和放鬆。有時他們甚至會得到經濟利益。任何人，無論貧富、老幼、健康與否，都可以從事一項令其愉悅的愛好。
愛好對人們的身心健康有益。醫生髮現愛好對幫助病人從身體或心理疾病中康復，頗有價值。愛好可以使那些臥病在床或坐在輪椅上的患者有事可做，給他們帶來樂趣使他們不再總想著自己(的病情)。許多醫院就是通過培養病人的愛好或娛樂活動對他們進行治療的。
早期，許多人忙著為生計奔波，愛好不多。但那些有閒暇的人們確實從愛好中得到了樂趣。古埃及人就玩一種用木頭或陶器做成的球類。現今的人們比以往有更多的時間發展愛好。機器減少了人們必須花在工作上的時間。那些有著業餘愛好的人們從來不必擔心如何打發新近找到的空餘時間。
威廉姆·奧瑟拉，加拿大著名醫生，這樣表達了愛好的價值：“沒有愛好，人們不會真正感到幸福或安全。”