I bought new running shoes recently. Well, truth be told, I bought a new pair of the exact same shoes (after running in several pairs and taking another one home). But that's another story.
When I was at the store, the guy helping me pointed to a pair of bright orange shoes. "These also might work for you," he said, "but you probably aren't interested in them". Because, of course, they were florescent orange. At the time, I was dressed in my work clothes. I'm guessing it was a grey pants suit. My everyday wardrobe is pretty much grey and black. With a few pairs of jeans and a red shirt or two thrown in. I'm not particularly stylish or adventuresome.
But my running clothes are all various ridiculous shades. I have a white and green visor that Coach Craig and T can't stand. I have an orange headband that Coach Craig once told me he couldn't even look at me in. I have enough hot pink items that our new running buddy, Captain Internet, joked that he needs to buy a pink spandex shirt.
My dad used to always tell me I needed a hobby. He believes it is important to have more than work in one's life, and he is right. Hobbies also let us be someone other than who we usually are. Like a florescent color wearing crazy person. Or a toe-shoe wearing "coach". Or an internet personality spending an hour unplugged.
I've been doing a bunch of interviewing at work over the past few months. Around the end of a second interview, I invariably ask people "what do you do for fun?" I'm trying to get a sense of their personality, and potential fit with our team. But I'm also trying to get a sneak peak into their hobbies. Because our alter egos are part of us, after all. And perhaps a bigger part than we want to admit.
