Things that make the time pass by unnoticed

A rumination on hobbies

It’s the final session of a four-week rowing course and the bow pair are really gliding. The only sound is the synchronous plonk of oars into water.

Our instructor is directly in front of me, and as I do the dutiful work of “relaxing so the boat stays balanced”, I can see he is also indulging in the quiet of the canal. He eventually breaks the silence and says, “See, after a while, you can just row and row and row and you don’t even notice the time passing.”

I ask him if that’s why people love rowing? He replies, “It’s a place to come to escape the drudgery of the day. Just be on the water, enjoy the good weather, be with other people, have a paddle.”

I love his description. I love the sound of having a paddle. I love that he has found this thing he can do where he doesn’t even notice the time passing.

I’m still searching for that thing.

It’s why I tried rowing. It’s why I’m also doing an art class on Mondays. It’s why I want to start tennis lessons in September. And why I went to a salsa …