When Joy Becomes a Bridge Between Hearts
Ah, hobbies! These little chosen pleasures, these bubbles of time stolen from the everyday, that allow us to feel alive, create, explore… But what if, beyond mere entertainment, our hobbies were also bridges? Unexpected pathways to others, to true friendships, deep bonds, and connections that form almost without us noticing? Let’s dive into the world of shared passions—where laughter, paintbrush strokes, or epic board game nights open the heart, and consider hobbies as a way to connect
🎯 What is a hobby, really?
Etymologically, the word “hobby” comes from the English term for a leisure horse (the famous hobby horse). Today, it refers to any activity we do regularly for enjoyment. At first glance, it may not seem productive or useful. And yet… hobbies offer numerous benefits: relaxation, escapism, cognitive stimulation, self-expression. And when a hobby is shared, those benefits multiply.
🧩 Shared hobbies: a wordless language
You don’t need to be a great speaker to make friends. Sometimes, all it takes is sitting around a puzzle, meeting every Tuesday for a theater class, or swapping gardening tips online. The activity becomes a shared language, a kind of emotional dialect, where gestures speak louder than words and rituals build familiarity.
For example, picture two strangers in a pottery class. At first, they’re focused on their lumps of clay. Then a shared glance, a laugh over a wobbly vase—and just like that, a bond begins. Subtle, but already strong.
🎮 From virtual to real: hobbies 2.0
With the rise of the internet, passions know no boundaries. Forums, social networks, online gaming platforms… Hobby communities thrive and form bonds just as strong as those in local clubs. Yes, even behind a screen, friendships are born, grow, and sometimes cross oceans to meet in real life (IRL).
Gamers, for example, will tell you: a guild or team quickly becomes a group of friends. They support each other, share wins (and fails), and start opening up. That’s the magic: shared action becomes a doorway to intimacy.
🧶 Hobbies as social openers
Doing an activity with one or more people is also a great way to step outside your bubble. For shy individuals, newcomers to a city, or those seeking new connections, a shared hobby is a key. It creates a safe context where everyone feels like they belong.
Community centers, hobby cafés, or local clubs often bring together a wide mix of people: students, retirees, professionals, isolated individuals… all united by a shared passion. The hobby becomes a social equalizer, a neutral ground where differences fade.
🏓 Hobbies and maintaining existing friendships
Let’s not forget the people already in our lives—longtime friends, childhood buddies, close coworkers. Time passes, responsibilities pile up, and sometimes we drift apart without meaning to. Sharing a hobby can be a powerful way to nurture those relationships. Remember hobbies as a way to connect to others.
A reading duo, monthly photo walk, or a shared fitness challenge—these rituals offer new ways to reconnect, deepen the bond, and create fresh memories. Because friendship needs nurturing. And what better fertilizer than a shared passion?
🌱 The hidden benefits of shared moments
Beyond immediate enjoyment, shared hobbies cultivate invisible treasures:
- Active listening: noticing what the other creates, thinks, or feels
- Cooperation: especially in team or pair activities (games, sports, theater…)
- Patience and tolerance: everyone has their own pace, quirks, and moments of brilliance
- Gratitude: for the simple moments, the small victories, the budding connection
These qualities, once nurtured through leisure, naturally enrich all our relationships. Because at its core, a hobby is a training ground for the art of connection.
🧪 And what does science say?
It turns out our intuition is spot on! Studies show that sharing an activity improves the perceived quality of relationships. Even better: it boosts oxytocin (the “bonding hormone”), reduces stress, and enhances overall well-being.
A study at Oxford University found that people who take part in choirs, sports teams, or creative workshops form strong social ties more quickly. Why? Because shared action synchronizes not just our bodies—but our hearts.
💡 Don’t have a hobby (yet)?
Good news: it’s never too late to start! Here are a few ideas to explore together hobbies as a way to connect
- The classics: dance, hiking, painting, photography, sewing, singing…
- The quirky: escape rooms, live-action role-play, kite-flying, tarot…
- The delicious: cooking classes, wine or chocolate tasting, knitting over drinks!
- The meaningful: volunteering, civic action, community gardening…
The key is to choose something that lights up your eyes. And if you can invite someone to join you—even better!
💬 In conclusion: from fun to fondness
Sharing a hobby isn’t just doing something together. It’s being together differently—in a joyful, pressure-free space. It’s rediscovering the other through their gestures, tastes, and vulnerabilities. It’s building, brick by brick, a playful and lasting connection.
So grab your paintbrushes, paddles, board games, or aprons… Shared happiness is just around the corner!
🔍 Sources :
- Frontiers in Psychology – Group Music Making and Social Bonding
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2016.01482/full - Journal of Happiness Studies – Hobbies and Social Well-Being
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10902-020-00242-2 - Psychology Today – The Science Behind Shared Activities and Closeness
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/social-instincts/201904/the-science-behind-shared-activities-and-closeness - PLoS ONE – Joint Action Promotes Social Bonding in Children
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0051315 - Harvard Health Publishing – The health benefits of strong relationships
https://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletter_article/the-health-benefits-of-strong-relationships
