Which hobby did you pick up as an adult, and how did it start?

[Phoenix]

Most of us had hobbies as children that we either kept or dropped along the way. But some of the most rewarding hobbies are the ones we discover later in life, often by accident. A friend drags you along to something, a lockdown experiment sticks, or you finally try the thing you always wondered about. Suddenly you have a new passion

I took up sea swimming in my late thirties, after a friend talked me into a cold January dip for charity. I hated the first ten seconds and loved everything after that. Now I swim most weekends, all year round, and I have met some of my closest friends on the beach. I would never have guessed it as a teenager

Adult hobbies can be especially satisfying because you choose them for yourself, rather than because school or parents pushed you into them. They can also be surprisingly social, bringing you into contact with people you would never otherwise meet. Some people find a hobby that eventually becomes a side business or even a career. Nobody is too old to start something new

Starting something new as an adult can feel intimidating, especially if everyone else seems more experienced. Hearing other people's stories might encourage someone reading this to finally give their idea a go

Which hobby did you pick up as an adult, and how did it start?