So I’ll admit I have been very sporadic with posts due in no small part to COVID, but also because I’ve felt like I haven’t really had much to share that’s meaningful. I always feel weird just yammering on about my day since that’s pretty boring and wouldn’t really help anyone who is looking for ideas, tools or a sounding board for their depression.
Here I am in the uncomfortably humid weather trying to determine what I could put out there. There was a time I felt more artistic and enjoyed being able to express myself behind the lens through photography. These days my ‘shooting’ is with gunpowder and there’s definitely no art there (Though I am intrigued by people who use gunpowder to burn art onto surfaces). With the weather being as hot as it has been this summer (and even now in Oct) I’ve also found myself struggling to find fun baking ideas. I suppose I could try my hand again at chilled desserts too.
Motivation is always a challenge with depression and this season has been especially rough for me. Ammo prices are a little ridiculous so I can’t target-shoot as I’d like. Weather is painfully still hot and humid, so baking is a no-go. That leaves me with every little. I have managed to find one slightly more affordable hobby. Being an IT person by trade I finally bit the bullet and starting playing with Raspberry Pi’s. Not food pie, but a small ARM based micro-computer.
It may seem weird to think of a micro computer as being a fun outlet but it’s allowed me to dabble in server work, a little bit of light programming in a very small and fun package. The accessory market for these devices is almost ridiculously broad and there’s plenty of projects. If you’re a parent, the options for DIY with your kids is also something I found really interesting. While I may not creatively be able to express myself; especially with external factors being what they are; I can still enjoy trying to battle back against depression and the strong urge to just be idle and get back into bad-habits by trying to expand my skillset. If tech isn’t your thing, try simple crafts or something to at least scratch a creative itch.
