A vocation or avocation?
You may well have had a vocation, something you felt drawn to do to earn your daily crust. You may not have had a vocation, but just did whatever you had to do to put food on the table and a roof over your head.
It is more likely that most people have an avocation. The word comes from 16th century Latin avocation meaning ‘calling away.’ Basically, it’s a smart word for a hobby!
An avocation is something you do entirely for pleasure and is nothing to do with making money, though it might do so incidentally. It may be something creative, like embroidery or whittling. It could be an outdoor pursuit, like mountaineering or birdwatching. It may be something which exercises your mind, like poker or building a model railway. It might even be something that combines several avocations, like writing a book containing photographs you have taken of wonderful cakes you have designed and baked.
Did you have a vocation? How many avocations have you?
Have you enough time for all the hobbies you enjoy?
Gardening, sewing and reading, oh better add the grandchildren.
ReplyDeleteThe grandchildren are a work in progress . . .
DeleteYou'll not be delving into my avocations.
ReplyDeleteI didn't think I knew the word, but then I did remember.
Your avocations reflect your working life!
DeleteIt seems we never have enough time for the things we really enjoy. There's always the regular stuff that must get done first.
ReplyDelete'Not enough hours in the day' as we all say.
DeleteFor a few, vocations and avocations could line up or at least an avocation could lead to a vocation.
ReplyDelete. . . and vice versa . . .
DeleteI have had several vocations, and still have a few avocations. Is it because I can't make up my mind or like to try something new???
ReplyDeleteYou're versatile!
DeleteI've never heard of avocation. What a great word.
ReplyDeleteIt's a lovely word. 😃
DeleteI have to plant some tomatoes hopefully today-Christine cmlk79.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteI hope they thrive. 🍅
DeleteArt, blogging, going out to eat, watching television/movies...
ReplyDelete. . . and on, and on . . .
DeleteShame on me I didn’t know the meaning of the word avocation, I appreciate you teaching me 😀 I have quite a few hobbies, but that’s something I’ve come to a bit later in life, I’m not greatly skilled at any of them but they bring me joy, thats what matters 😍
ReplyDeleteAlison in Devon x
Finding pleasure in what you're doing is just what life should be about.
DeleteStill waiting for my vocation to speak to me. But many avocations, one of which was making miniature furniture, spinning of course and the whole network of growing plants for dyeing and knitting.
ReplyDeleteYou have much in common with Boud, I think.
DeleteReading, blogging, crocheting, casual photography, taking walks some birding. used to garden I really don’t do that much ditto for traveling I hope those situations change. Due to my job, I actually learned the definitions of vocation and advocation years ago.
ReplyDeleteAnything enjoyable away from work can be classed as avocation. 😃
DeleteRight now life has shortened my avocations. Definitely art, blogging and a bit of gardening. Have a nice day today.
ReplyDeleteI could see you artistic avocation becoming a vocation!
DeleteI suppose that teaching was my vocation - at least for the first few years - but then it became a kind of conveyor belt that went back to the beginning every September. Here we go again! As for hobbies/avocations - I guess that my main one is blogging! I seem to find plenty of time for that even though the time to investigate and read other people's blogs is limited. Hell, you could spend every waking hour here in the blogosphere if you failed to curtail your time.
ReplyDeleteWalking is another of your avocations, Neil, and local history, and photography, and writing, and quizzes, and beer . . .
DeleteThat is an interesting question. I have had several avocations in my life, those jobs that kept the bills paid. Being a librarian was one of them. I enjoyed the job, but it was a job, not the thing I loved. My vocation was and still is storytelling, whether written or spoken. And if we can have 2, then the other is gardening. Those two run neck and neck for me.
ReplyDeleteTales from the garden?
DeleteInteresting.
ReplyDeleteI have too many hobbies and not enough time!
That is so often the case.
DeleteA great explanation between the two.
ReplyDeleteThank you. 😃
DeleteI'd not heard of avocation!
ReplyDeleteI thank you for providing the explanation and meaning between these two words.
All the best Jan
My pleasure.
Deletecrafting would be my avocation. But there are others as well
ReplyDeleteYou have many crafting skills, too.
DeleteFantastic post! I would say that writing is my avocation. It doesn't always feed the "piggy bank" 💰but it always feeds the soul.
ReplyDelete“Think before you speak. Read before you think.” — Fran Lebowitz
J (he/him 👨🏽 or 🧑🏽 they/them) @JLenniDorner ~ Speculative Fiction & Reference Author and Co-host of the April Blogging #AtoZChallenge international blog hop
I have too many avocations . . . 😯
DeleteMy avocations are working out at the gym, walking my dog, reading. I don't have a vocation right now and don't miss it.
ReplyDeleteIt's a relief to rest your vocation . . . 😉
DeleteMy fantasy was to be a champion bridge player, going to competitions around the world. This never happened of course, but since retirement, I have allocated time each day to play for pleasure.
ReplyDeleteThat's an excellent way to keep your brain sharp.
DeleteI was one who did what had to be done for food and a roof, but I got really good at it! Hobbies? Hmm, I am not at all crafty or inventive. Does reading fiction count? Or is that just a lazy way to get through the days? Holding a hose for the plants a few times a year hardly counts as gardening.
ReplyDeleteYou write - that's one of your avocations, and certainly reading is an avocation.
DeleteI've had many of each.... What a blessing to have a vocation that is your avocation and an avocation that is your vocation.Yet I've found that avocations turned vocations often cease being avocations.
ReplyDeleteWhen a pleasure becomes a pain it is time to pass over it.
DeleteI had a vocation but never had the opportunity to get the training I needed to go after it. My avocations are reading and embroidery, and weather allowing, keeping my flowers alive and my grass under control.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
The things we choose to do are the ones that give us the most pleasure.
DeleteWorking at the library was my vocation, but that part of my working life ended after only six brief years. I really like the job I am doing now but wouldn't call it my vocation.
ReplyDeleteAs for avocations, I love reading and writing, and of course there is walking, and lots of it!
Blogger keeps losing my invaluable (!!) comments! Three brilliant avocations there.
DeleteNever come across 'avocation before' I suppose one says an avocation. Some of mine are knitting and crochet, cooking, my garden, coach trips . . . :-)
ReplyDelete. . . keep fit, coffee and lunch with friends, reading . . . You really need a 48-hour day, Joy.
Deletelol - good point . . . it's a great life. xx
DeleteI didn't know the word avocation. Thanks for this new word. I suppose my blogging could be called an avocation.
ReplyDeleteI think blogging is definitely an avocation, and so is the appreciation of gin! 🍼🍸
DeleteI think there is an intersection between my vocation and my avocation - a passion for the living world in all its glorious diversity.
ReplyDeleteFor you, the two are one.
DeleteAvocation. A vacation. What a difference a vowel or space makes.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely!
DeleteLots of avocations. Painting, gardening, making music, writing. These are the things that make life fun.
ReplyDeleteWe would be the poorer without them!
ReplyDeleteI THOUGHT I had a vocation - teaching. Took the training, took the job, quickly realized that it was not for me. (Considered strangling my department head. Quit instead.) Avocation, yes. Painting, to start, but quickly realized that I was not good enough. then I discovered cameras and what they can do. Lovely.
ReplyDeleteArtistry and creativity through a camera lens - that has been a gift for many people.
Delete