A hobby can be almost anything a person likes to do in his spare time. Hobbyists raise pets, build model ships, hunt animals, climb mountains, raise flowers, fish, ski, skate,and swim. Hobbyists also paint pictures, attend concerts and plays, and perform on musical instruments.They collect everything from books to butterflies, and from shells to stamps.
People take up hobbies because these activities offer enjoyment, friendship,knowledge and relaxation. Sometimes they even yield financial profit. Anyone, rich or poor, old or young, sick or well, can follow a satisfying hobby.
Hobbies can help a person`s mental and physical health.Doctors have found that hobbies are valuable in helping patients recover from physical or mental illness. Hobbies give bedridden or wheel chair patients something to do, and provide interests that keep them from thinking about themselves.
Many hospitals treat patients by having them take up interesting hobbies or pastimes.
In early times, most people were too busy making a living to have many hobbies. But some persons who had leisure did enjoy hobbies. The ancient Egyptians played games with balls made of wood or pottery. People today have more time than ever before for hobbies. Machines have reduced the amount of time they must spend on their jobs. Those who have developed hobbies never need to worry about what to do with their newly-found leisure hours.
William Osier, a famous Canadian doctor, expressed the value of hobbies by saying, "No man is really happy or safe without a hobby."
论爱好
爱好可以是一个人闲暇时想做的几乎任何事情。有爱好的人饲养宠物、搭建船模、打猎、爬山、养花、钓鱼、滑雪、滑冰还有游泳。有爱好的人还作画、听音乐会、欣赏戏剧、演奏乐器。他们收集从书本到蝴蝶，从贝壳到邮票的任何东西。
人们从事这些业余爱好是因为这些活动可以带来愉快、友谊、知识和放松。有时他们甚至会得到经济利益。任何人，无论贫富、老幼、健康与否，都可以从事一项令其愉悦的爱好。
爱好对人们的身心健康有益。医生发现爱好对帮助病人从身体或心理疾病中康复，颇有价值。爱好可以使那些卧病在床或坐在轮椅上的患者有事可做，给他们带来乐趣使他们不再总想着自己(的病情)。许多医院就是通过培养病人的爱好或娱乐活动对他们进行治疗的。
早期，许多人忙着为生计奔波，爱好不多。但那些有闲暇的人们确实从爱好中得到了乐趣。古埃及人就玩一种用木头或陶器做成的球类。现今的人们比以往有更多的时间发展爱好。机器减少了人们必须花在工作上的时间。那些有着业余爱好的人们从来不必担心如何打发新近找到的空余时间。
威廉姆·奥瑟拉，加拿大著名医生，这样表达了爱好的价值：“没有爱好，人们不会真正感到幸福或安全。”
