Last spring I was asked to write a list of my hobbies. This was easy. As many of you know, I am passionate about many things--oscillate they may, but I am always directing excitement towards something: a new book, a new vinyl record, literature, etc. 

Then a realization came to light--at first it was curious, then it was despairing: my hobbies are all consumer oriented. Think of it. I am passionate about other people's cultural production. Literature: it is another's creative labor. Music: it is another's creative labor. And so on. 

When it comes to culture, I am fundamentally passive. 

You all know the flip side to this consumer passion. It is chronic criticism. We become so skillful at consuming other's creative output, that we become master critics. 

Sometimes this leads to near-despair: "I am canceling my subscription because of your lead article last month;" or, "that band's latest album is banal and ill-conceived--I hate them now;" or, "I am an Apple guy, but I hate the new shiny screens. Why can't Apple make available a matte screen. I don't know if I will ever buy an Apple again."

Most of the time it leads to joy: "I love The Economist because it is economically conservative but socially aware;" or, "Wilco is amazing. They are about the music;" or, "the new Apple notebook is amazing--I am glad I am alive for this one." 

But none of my hobbies create. They only consume. I don't like that. I am unsettled by that. 

So I am going to begin creating. Writing songs instead of only buying music. Writing short stories instead of only buying books. Using my hands instead of only using my debit card. Forming instead of receiving. Shaping instead of taking. 

This is a really good article that I came across today that got me thinking and writing about this.