I LOVE GAMING BUT IT'S NOT MY LIFE

There's nothing like coming home after a long day of work, unwinding and indulging yourself in your favorite hobby. For most that hobby can include but not limited to fantasy sports,baking,collecting stamps and too much to mention here. For me personally that hobby comes in the form of video games or gaming as my fellow gamers would like to call it. As much as I love gaming I'm starting to fear that's the only thing my family, friends, and colleagues ever know me for. I really don't owe anyone an explanation on what I enjoy in my personal life and time but it's becoming a concern therefore necessary. Gaming is not my only hobby, it's just the most convenient for me to engage in before bedtime. As I write these words I can't help but think about other gamers that juggles family,work,and hobbies. To juggle other life's responsibilities and still manage to enjoy their favorite hobby is like a magic trick and it's amazing. Additionally I think about my own situation and how I juggle work and other personal matters. So yes I love gaming but it's not the only thing I love to do, it's just the most convenient. If you've read my last story you would know that I love going to the gun range and the most obvious writing. The problem with the other two hobbies that I enjoy is first of all the lack of time. Time plays a very big part in my life. I work a 10 hour shift and immediately after I DoorDash around 3 hours before I make it to the house. Once I get home I eat dinner,work out,and take a shower that only leaves me with maybe 2 hours of actual free time. With my job and side gig taking up most of my time, going to the gun range is pretty much on the back burner. That's because at most local gun ranges where I live are closed at such a late hour. As far as writing goes my brain power is drained after a long day of work so far too often I develop a bad case of writer's block. There's nothing more frustrating just sitting at your keyboard knowing you have something you want to write but just can't. I feel like I can use more balance in my life to even out my gaming activities with more writing. Joining Vocal actually serves that purpose for me because I recently started to find myself thinking of my next story. Also I started to workout more because I don't want to fall into that stereotypical overweight gamer guy. I also want to pick up a new hobby in photography lol I just don't know how to fit that in my schedule. The words over indulgence comes to mind. Too much time in one thing can be a problem if you don't balance it out with something else. Soon it will take over your life in ways you least expect that brings another word to mind addiction. I really don't want to touch on the subject of addiction because it will ultimately force me to take a long look in the mirror and I'm afraid of what I might see. The purpose of this particular story is to drive home the message that gaming is a part of my life, not my whole life. Gaming is my way of escape from the rest of the world,not just gaming but other hobbies as well. I just want you to know that your hobbies and your joys aren't the only thing that define you as a person. Your hobbies are just an activity that you enjoy doing in your private time. You are more than your hobbies, you're unique, enjoy yourself but not too much lol.

T.L.ARNOLD