For Grace, having too many hobbies isn’t a problem to solve... it’s part of what makes life exciting.
From hiking and running to climbing and wild swimming, she’s always looking for something new to try, and a new excuse to get outside.
In this Seashell Spirit interview, we chat to Grace about her ever-growing collection of hobbies, the pressure to have life figured out, and why sometimes the best adventures start simply by getting out the door.
You describe yourself as a bit of a hobby collector — where do you think that curiosity comes from?
I've always been someone who gets excited by trying something new. I get slightly obsessed with something, throw myself into it, and then inevitably find another thing I want to try. I think a lot of it comes from not wanting to feel like I’m doing the same thing all the time as someone who also gets bored very easily. There’s so much out there to try, I want to do it all. That’s probably how I’ve ended up going from hiking to running to climbing to wild swimming… and I’m sure there’ll be another one next month.
Do you think your love of collecting hobbies has naturally pushed you towards more outdoor adventures and ways of exploring?
100 %! I think the outdoors is the perfect place to try new things, I always say nature is like an adults playground. You can go for a run, climb a mountain, get on a bike, go climbing, find somewhere to swim and they all provide a completely different experiences but always leave me feeling more connected to myself. I also love that you don’t necessarily need to be an expert to get involved, the phrase “jack of all trades, master of none” really fits my approach to getting outside.
Do you think you're more attracted to being good at something, or to that feeling of being a complete beginner and figuring it out?
I like to be good at things and do find it frustrating when I’m not, but I’m trying to re wire my brain in that sense. There’s something quite freeing about being rubbish at something because you’ve got nothing to lose. You can just have a go, make mistakes and learn. I think that’s also why I don’t take my hobbies too seriously. I’m not trying to be the best runner or the best climber (good job, because I’m definitely not), I just want to enjoy doing it and see where it takes me!
Do you think we're sometimes too focused on finding one passion, one career or one identity, when actually it's okay to have lots of different interests?
Yeah definitely. There’s so much pressure to know exactly what you want to do and who you are, especially when you’re younger. I felt that pressure for yearsssss, then got to a point where I decided I wasn’t going to subscribe to it anymore. I don’t know what I want to be in 5, 10 or 50 years, other than happy. I don’t think you have to pick one thing and make that your entire personality. I love wearing cute outfits and doing my makeup, but I only find joy on a super muddy trail run getting covered in dirt - people are multi dimensional and their interest can be too!
Biggest lesson the outdoors has taught you?
Probably that you don’t have to have everything figured out before you start. Some of my favourite adventures have come from just getting out the door without knowing exactly how they’re going to go. You might get lost, the weather might change, you might struggle up a hill, but you always figure it out.
Thank you for sharing your Seashell Spirit with us, Grace! Follow Grace on Instagram here.
Now get off the internet & go outside!
