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Tuesday, 13 January 2026
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Written by Sheila D. Barker
The start of a new year brings a unique sense of possibility. Calendars are blank, routines feel more flexible, and motivation tends to run high. While many people focus on resolutions tied to productivity or health, the new year is also an ideal time to explore something purely enjoyable: a new hobby.
Whether you’re looking to reduce stress, learn a skill, or simply add more joy to your days, picking up a hobby can be one of the most rewarding choices you make.
Psychologically, the new year represents a fresh chapter. This “clean slate” effect makes it easier to try new things without the pressure of past habits or perceived failures. Schedules also tend to reset after the holidays, creating small pockets of time that can be dedicated to something new. Even the colder, quieter months in many parts of the world encourage indoor activities, reflection, and skill-building.
Starting a hobby in January sets a positive tone for the rest of the year. Instead of focusing solely on goals you feel you should pursue, a hobby gives you something you want to return to—something that feels energizing rather than demanding.
Why Having a Hobby Matters
Hobbies play a vital role in overall well-being. They provide a break from work-related stress and daily responsibilities, allowing your mind to rest and recharge. Engaging in an activity purely for enjoyment can lower stress levels, improve mood, and even boost creativity and problem-solving skills.
Hobbies also help create balance. In a world that often prioritizes productivity, having something that isn’t tied to income or obligation reminds us that leisure has value. Over time, hobbies can increase confidence as you build skills and see progress, and they often lead to meaningful social connections—whether through classes, online communities, or local groups.
Perhaps most importantly, hobbies help us reconnect with curiosity. Learning something new keeps the brain active and can add a sense of purpose and excitement to everyday life. Fayetteville offers a variety of ways to kick off the new year with a fresh hobby, whether you are looking for creative outlets, strategic games, or
outdoor adventures.
Creative Arts and Crafting
Engaging in hands-on creative activities is a popular way to de-stress. You can explore artisanal crafts or structured art classes designed for all skill levels.
Scented Wicks Candle Bar, located at 3109 N. Main Street, Suite #102 in Hope Mills, is a great local spot if you are looking to learn how to make candles. They offer a "pour your own" experience where you can customize your scents and vessels.
This venue offers a helpful staff with high-quality products and offers a social atmosphere for those looking to bring others with them, but it is also a great option for solo hobbyists. https://scentedwickscandlebar.com/
Looking to start a new hobby as a family? Kidcreate Studio-Fayetteville is a great option for visual arts fun. They focus on art education with classes that range from clay sculpting to painting. They provide all the necessary supplies, making this a great option for beginners and a great starting place without a large investment. Kidscreate Studios is located at 434 Westwood Shopping Center. https://kidcreate.com/fayetteville
Located at 3350 Footbridge Lane, Suite 120, Hot Spot Studios is a versatile art space that caters to a wide variety of creative interests beyond traditional painting. Featuring a variety of activities like glass fusing and canvas painting, they also host special events and themed nights perfect for beginners. https://www.thehotspotstudios.com/fayetteville-nc/
Strategic Games and Social Hobbies
If you prefer mental stimulation and community interaction, Fayetteville has several established groups where you can learn new games or sharpen your skills.
Chess is a great option for mental stimulation, and the Fayetteville Chess Society is the go-to community for anyone looking to learn. They host regular meetups and welcome players of all levels. This group provides a welcoming environment for beginners to learn the basics of the game and allows you to engage with a local network of players for both casual and competitive play. https://www.fayettevillechesssociety.org/
Group Therapy Pub & Playground, located at 1906 Skibo Rd. is a massive indoor "adult playground" designed specifically for social games and interactive hobbies.
Unlike a traditional pub, it is more casual and laid back and offers a wide variety of competitive activities like mini golf, axe throwing and ping pong. They regularly host themed nights and interactive events, which makes it a great spot to pick up a new social hobby. https://www.grouptherapy.fun/fayetteville/
Wellness and Lifelong Learning
The new year is a perfect time to focus on personal growth, whether through physical activity or expanding your knowledge base.
The Cape Fear River Trail is a great chance to spend time in nature to take up hiking, birdwatching, trail running or nature photography. The trail offers 7 miles of paved paths through scenic wetlands and forests. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/north-carolina/cape-fear-river-trail
The Cumberland County Library system is an excellent resource to explore a new hobby. They offer access to extensive collections on gardening, cooking and DIY projects. They also host workshops and classes. Be sure to check out the newly opened Library of Things, where you can borrow everything from quilting needles to a ukulele. https://www.cumberlandcountync.gov/departments/library-group/library
Gardening & Nature
With the region's favorable climate, gardening is a rewarding hobby that lets you enjoy the beauty of the Sandhills.
Located at 536 N. Eastern Blvd., Cape Fear Botanical Garden serves as a stunning background for learning about local flora and sustainable gardening practices. They offer many educational workshops and also provide volunteer opportunities for those wanting to get their hands dirty. https://capefearbg.org/
The Fayetteville Community Garden is the perfect local hub for aspiring urban farmers to learn from their neighbors and grow their own food. This is ideal for residents who may not have a space for gardening at home and encourages sustainable living and community cooperation. The garden serves as a great place to meet local gardening enthusiasts and experts alike. The community garden is located at 412 Vanstory St. https://www.fayettevillenc.gov/Parks-and-Recreation/Facilities/Fayetteville-Community-Garden
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Tuesday, 13 January 2026
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Written by Lia Tremblaya
One morning last March, Jasie Landeros was in Wilmington for a work trip when her cell phone rang. It was her father, Cliff Lovick, whose first words when she picked up were, “Don’t panic.”
He went on to say that Landeros’ mother, Kay, had been experiencing some persistent dizziness that morning. She had been taken to Cape Fear Valley Medical Center in an ambulance.
“But he didn’t want me to panic,” Landeros said. “He said, ‘Don't worry about rushing back home. We'll keep you updated on everything.’”
By the time she was able to get to Fayetteville, Landeros learned that tests showed Kay’s dizziness was caused by a heart attack. She would need a cardiac catheterization, a procedure in which a long, narrow tube is used to access the heart. This allows doctors to find the blocked arteries, and, in most cases, open them back up with the placement of stents.
After Kay was taken back for the procedure, Landeros and her sister, Rita, waited with their dad for an update. But after 30 minutes, they learned there had been a change of plans.
“It turned out she was about 90 percent blocked in three arteries,” said Landeros. “The right side of her heart was not functioning at all.”
Kay would need triple-bypass surgery. For her family, this was a lot to absorb.
“She held our hands, and she said, ‘Girls, I'm going to be okay,’” Landeros said. “‘Everything happens for a reason.’ That's what she's always told us: everything happens for a reason.”
Even while reassuring her daughters, Kay was still adjusting to the news herself.
“I could still hardly believe I’d had a heart attack,” said Kay. “And then to find out I need open-heart surgery?”
The next morning, Kay was wheeled off to surgery. Robert E. Maughan, MD, spent hours repairing the blocked arteries to restore blood flow to her heart. Landeros, Rita and Cliff passed the time with other family members in the waiting room, watching the clock and waiting for good news.
“Then Dr. Maughan walked in,” said Landeros. “He said she did great. And we just had tears of joy.”
Kay spent 15 days recovering in the hospital, a setting that had become quite familiar to her family. Both of her girls were born there, and in 2021, Kay spent two weeks being treated there for a severe case of COVID.
“They took fantastic care of her with the COVID,” Landeros said, “But because of the pandemic restrictions, we couldn’t all be with her. This was so much better, that we were all able to be there and see her and hold her hand.”
Being there was especially important to Cliff. He and Kay had just celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.
“They were high school sweethearts,” said Landeros. “They’re inseparable, those two.”
After her discharge from the hospital, Kay continued to recover but was careful to take it easy.
“I made a little trail through the house,” she said. “I kept telling myself, ‘Small steps and deep breaths.’”
She’s taking longer walks now, up and down her long driveway in Wade. It’s a community she deeply loves and credits with a great deal of her recovery.
“You just can't imagine the kindness that they have shown, and all the prayers,” she said. “It is unbelievable.”
Kay is keeping an eye on her heart health with regular visits to her cardiologist, Thor E. Klang, MD.
And she’s made it her mission to share with friends and family that a heart attack doesn’t always look like you think it will.
“I never had any chest pain,” she said. “I never had any trouble breathing. I just felt dizzy, that was it. I thought it might be vertigo, or even a stroke. But I never thought ‘heart attack.’”
From the emergency department to surgery and beyond, Landeros is grateful for the care her mother received. But she’s also grateful for how her father was cared for during the ordeal.
“Dad stayed there every single night at the hospital,” she said. “They brought him extra blankets, fresh pillows, something to drink. They checked on him when they were checking on her, and that just meant the world to me as their daughter.”
That care was more than just a kindness, according to Landeros. It kept the whole Lovick family energized and prepared to help Kay through her healing.
“The doctors and nurses took their time explaining to us what we needed to do,” she said. “We were just really grateful for the care that they gave her, and for the care that they gave to all of us.”
(Photo courtesy of Cape Fear Valley Health)
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