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Observing Hobbies

Introduction

Observation is both a journey and a destination. Observational hobbies deepen our awareness and appreciation of nature, objects, ourselves and other people.

To acquire knowledge, one must study; but to acquire wisdom, one must observe.—Courage: The Heart and Spirit of Every Woman, by Sandra Ford Walston
The wise man corrects his own errors by observing those of others.—The Moral Sayings of Publius Syrus: A Roman Slave, by Syrus Publius
Facts have to be discovered by observation, not by reasoning.—The History of Western Philosophy, by Bertrand Russell
Reason, observation, and experience—the holy trinity of science.—On the Gods and Other Essays, by Robert G. Ingersoll
[Mindfulness is] the nonjudgmental observation of the ongoing stream of internal and external stimuli as they arise.—Mindfulness training as a clinical intervention: A conceptual and empirical review, by Ruth A. Baer
The act of observing nature seems straightforward. You just go outside and look at all the plants and animals, right? Not quite. Observation is the active acquisition of information, and it requires focus, effort, and patience. We easily see the world around us, but we need to practice using our senses and noticing details and patterns to really take it all in.—How to Observe Nature | Naples Botanical Garden