When people think of hobbies, they may be inclined to think of their own. Often, however, they may not question as to why they have a particular hobby or set of hobbies. For the majority, they find that their interests draw them into their favorite pastime.

For me, it was quite the opposite. I took up writing poetry primarily in the classroom setting. I initially dreaded the idea of writing, as I was more of the "math and science" type toward the beginning of my junior year.

Well, this "math and science" type ended up failing his first semester of physics and was in on-level Algebra 2 (obviously, there was an issue with identity there).

Toward the second semester, my English class had to write a free verse poem, with the option to present it to our classmates. I always enjoyed doing presentations, as it gave me an opportunity to convey how I really thought. When it came to speaking a poem aloud, however, I was a bit apprehensive.

I went through the process of writing, editing, and voicing this poem, and noted in my mind that I was going to present first to get it out of the way. I volunteered abruptly, without the slightest hesitation, and made my way to the front of the classroom.

I cleared my throat, and slowly descended into the prose that would leave some of the classmates shocked. The piece spoke, in an abstract manner, of how I pretended to be okay through the course of my stay in Arizona.

When I finished, some of the classmates commented on the piece, most of it in praise. I understood then that I wanted to pursue poetry, as it was something I picked up naturally.

With being a person with Asperger's, I'm taken to be the type that's resistant to change. Rigid, routine prone, and a bit too literal, I saw myself as anything but the typical poet.

After delving into classics like Edgar Allan Poe and Emily Dickinson, as well as contemporaries like Robert M. Drake and Rupi Kuhr, my world opened up mentally and emotionally (perhaps spiritually, too). It made for a healthier lifestyle, as change was welcome, and the strange was appreciated.

With having immersed myself in this hobby, some of my behaviors changed (for better and worse). Every lifestyle is flawed in some way, right?

With reading, I often found myself staying up until the early morning to read an endless archive of internet poetry. As I'm finally winding down, I'll read a chapbook's worth from a print edition of classics in my collection.

During the day, before going to work, I try to write at least two pieces; one is for social media as a means of connecting with other writers and poets, while the other piece is saved for a seemingly neverending chapbook project.

When you write and enjoy it, you'll often want to keep doing it. After a while, if it becomes more than a hobby, it's an obsession. If you've progressed with something being beyond an obsession, then you have yourself a new lifestyle.

Do you feel that your hobby has shaped you in some way? If so, how would you say it has? What we do may be influenced by how we are; going forward with it, however, shows that it can influence us.