Current:Home > MyFrom cycling to foraging, here's what we were really into this year -FundTrack
From cycling to foraging, here's what we were really into this year
View
Date:2025-04-15 21:55:41
Joy is a core value at NPR. Something we talk about at our news meetings in seeking out stories, and something we know we need more of than ever.
So this year we launched I'm Really Into, a space to celebrate our unique hobbies and interests.
In this series, our journalists share a hobby that brings them joy, what drew them to it, and what it says about their shared community. We've heard from people who found a new passion in the pandemic, as well as people who persevered and continued finding ways to do what they love. We also heard from thousands of readers like you, and we are continuing to share the hobbies that bring you happiness.
Here are some of your favorites, and you can see the full catalogue here.
Just like life, riding my bike doesn't always make sense. But that's why I love it
Riding despite knee problems from his childhood is just one of the ironies Bill Chappell tries to make sense of when describing his love for riding bikes. Yet, it's in riding that he learns to let go and enjoy the moment.
"Along the way, my brain disengages from stress. Life quiets down to simple rhythms," he says. "Problems seem to evaporate. Throw in a good podcast or music, and I'll be gone for hours."
Read more about why he's really into riding his bike.
Foraging helped me discover a world of free fruits and veggies
Daniel Wood describes how you can forage in the city as he hilariously recounts his own experiences roaming Washington, D.C., looking for free and forgotten fruits and veggies. He shows how nature and the urban environment intersect and mingle providing delicious rewards.
"In an ever modernizing world, foraging provides an opportunity to recall the simplicity of survival. All the things I thought I needed pale in comparison to a delicious piece of neglected fruit," he says.
Read about his foraging adventures and how you can find fruit in the wild.
Roller skating feels a lot like love, and falling is just part of the process
In search of a new hobby, Invisibilia host Kia Miakka Natisse found a vibrant community in the roller skating rink. Kia shows what perseverance, acceptance, and fun it is skating, falling and holding hands (sometimes with strangers).
"I picked up skating as a coping mechanism after a year in my house and in my head. It gave me the gift of learning something new with my body, and a new perspective on how to move through the world," she said.
Read more about her love for roller skating.
Seeing myself reflected in art allowed me to feel comfortable making my own
Drawing inspiration from the Harlem Renaissance and other artists of color, Sommer Hill explores her own identity through her love of painting. She describes how she focuses her energy into her art, creating something that she loves because it reflects her.
"Even if the picture doesn't turn out aesthetically pleasing by society's standards, it's still beautiful that I was able to create something. My paintings may not be a Basquiat, but they're mine — so I love them anyway," she said.
Sommer Hill writes about her painting process and self-reflection.
My mom passed down her love of horror to me — and a big lesson about courage
Nikki Jones loves the rush of watching a good horror film, but her love originated from her mother and her love for reading horror books. Through their bond and their shared love of horror, she shows how the lessons she and her mom learned enabled them to take courage and act.
"While my mother was putting on a brave face, she was dealing with her very own monster. I believe that her escapism into the horror genre allowed her to face her reality within a controlled environment," she said.
Nikki Jones explains why she's really into horror and the lessons it's taught her.
What are you really into? Fill out this form or leave us a voice note at 800-329-4273, and part of your submission may be featured online or on the radio.
veryGood! (2849)
Related
- This was the average Social Security benefit in 2004, and here's what it is now
- IOC's decision to separate speed climbing from other disciplines paying off
- Could Starliner astronauts return on a different craft? NASA eyes 2025 plan with SpaceX
- A Georgia governor’s latest work after politics: a children’s book on his cats ‘Veto’ and ‘Bill’
- Bodycam footage shows high
- 'Meet me at the gate': Watch as widow scatters husband's ashes, BASE jumps into canyon
- Kehlani Responds to Hurtful Accusation She’s in a Cult
- Rafael Nadal pulls out of US Open, citing concerns about fitness
- Can Bill Belichick turn North Carolina into a winner? At 72, he's chasing one last high
- Former Milwaukee hotel workers charged with murder after video shows them holding down Black man
Ranking
- The White House is cracking down on overdraft fees
- FBI: California woman brought sword, whip and other weapons into Capitol during Jan. 6 riot
- 'The Umbrella Academy' Season 4: Release date, time, cast, how to watch new episodes
- RFK Jr. closer to getting on New Jersey ballot after judge rules he didn’t violate ‘sore loser’ law
- Kylie Jenner Shows Off Sweet Notes From Nieces Dream Kardashian & Chicago West
- Kourtney Kardashian Cradles 9-Month-Old Son Rocky in New Photo
- Kehlani Responds to Hurtful Accusation She’s in a Cult
- Report: Lauri Markkanen signs 5-year, $238 million extension with Utah Jazz
Recommendation
Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people
Texas school tried to ban all black attire over mental-health concerns. Now it's on hold.
It's my party, and I'll take it seriously if I want to: How Partiful revived the evite
Illinois governor calls for resignation of sheriff whose deputy fatally shot Black woman in her home
Federal Spending Freeze Could Have Widespread Impact on Environment, Emergency Management
Olympic women's basketball bracket: Schedule, results, Team USA's path to gold
The GOP and Kansas’ Democratic governor ousted targeted lawmakers in the state’s primary
Immigration issues sorted, Guatemala runner Luis Grijalva can now focus solely on sports