URI Grad Libby Segal Makes Hobbies A Weekly Obsession
Saturday, December 08, 2012
The sky's the limit for URI grad Libby Segal, who has been obsessively acquiring hobbies at the rate of one per week, and documenting her experiences online.
Skydiving
Volunteering (during Hurricane Sandy relief)
Horseback Riding
Surfing
Swimming with Sharks
Wire Walking
Motorcycle Driving
Guitar Playing
Chocolate Making
Chess
Game Show Audition
Flying Lesson
Trapeze
Glass Making
Laughing Yoga
Downhill Mountain Biking
Skateboarding
Singing
Stunt Trampoline Jumping
Halfway Mark Catch-Up
Outdoor Rock Climbing
Stand Up Paddle Boarding
Beatboxing
Ventriloquism
Breakdancing
Stilt Walking
Flash Mob (Free)
Stunt Jumping
Ziplining
Subway Performing (Busking)
Unicycle Riding
Knife Throwing
Pilot Lesson
Birdhouse Making
Jedi Training
Archery
Jazz/Contemporary/Modern Dance
Beer Brewing
Meditation
Steel Pan Drumming
Rifle Shooting
Samurai Sword Fighting
Speed Dating
Boxing
Karate
Hip-Hop Dancing
Pole Dancing
Exhausted? She isn't. Segal took some time out between hobbies to talk to GoLocalProv about her magnificent obsession.
How it all began
Libby Segal found herself lounging around, spending her free time watching television, uncommitted to doing anything productive. “I wasn't living,” Segal says. “I found myself often saying that I wanted to try new things--especially adventurous things--or classes that may have appeared out of my element--and then never committed myself to trying any of them.”
“In early January, I began brainstorming my project.” February 17, Segal began her hobby hoarding project. “I had started to hoard one hobby a week for the year,” Segal says. “Trying new activities became a lot like changing up workouts at the gym--by changing what I did each week, I gave different muscles of my body--and my mind a workout, and I felt my level of happiness and excitement and passion for life exponentially grow.”
The Rhode Island connection
Segal graduated from URI in 2010 with degrees in Communication Studies and Film Media. After four years in RI, her time here has helped inspire her to be adventurous. “I went through many experiences at URI,” Segal says.“I believe that the experience that I had at URI really helped me to get my first glimpse at how adventurous of a person I truly am--and the type of adventurous person I could truly be,” Libby says about how she got over the loss of her field hockey team at URI and jumped on the chance to study abroad in Italy.
“The university, my professors, and my friends have all inspired me throughout the year through their constant belief in me, and I couldn't be more grateful.”
The secrets of hobby hoarding
Not everything about Segal’s hobby hoarding is spontaneous. Segal researches her hobby ideas, and suggestions of others, and when the background work has been done, the activity goes into her hobby calendar for each month. Then she does it. “I try not to hesitate, because hesitation often leads to excuses, and this year has been about refusing to say no.”
Working full-time during the week, Segal has dedicated Sundays as hobby days. “Because I am really passionate about the project, and the blog--and about trying new things and meeting new people, I make the time for it, Libby says. “It's really important to make time to do the things you enjoy doing.”
Segal spends enough time on each hobby to try something new, getting a feel for whether she will continue with it in the future. “The idea of the hobby project is to try each thing once to get a taste--see if I like it--and if it's something i'd like to keep doing,” Segal says. “But there are several hobbies I can see myself continuing even after the year is over--including piloting planes (I'd really love to get my pilot's license), hang gliding, karate, and chocolate making--because let's face it--I am absolutely addicted to chocolate.”
More than just hobbies
But this is more than just hoarding hobbies for Segal. “I've found that the project has turned into much, much more than a project, --it's really become a lifestyle, so even if I've scheduled one hobby per the week, I often find myself doing two--or even three.”
Segal says she's found that her year of hobby hoarding "has been about much more than just challenging myself but about inviting others to join me and to challenge themselves as well. Many of the moments that have made me happiest have been in the moments I've seen a friend overcome a fear--or a friend just say yes to something. Those are the moments I look forward to the most, and the ones I remember best.
For this voyager, the novelty of hip-hopping one week and beatboxing another has helped her expand the quality of her life. "I think too often we get caught up in our routines that we forget how nice change can feel. There are so many activities out there to try--if we never let ourselves try all of them, how will ever know what we are truly passionate about?"
Coming to an end
The “yearlong quest” as she calls it will end in February with a road trip across the nation, but Segal will never really be done hoarding hobbies. “I think my true hobby is hobbying,” she says. “This is my life now.”
Also, Segal aims to write up her experiences. “I want to turn the project into a book--a book that inspires others to try new things and take chances.” To follow Segal's hobby hoarding adventures online, go to her blog, here.
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