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A hobby can be almost anything tha t a person likes to do in his spare time. Hobbyists raise pets, watch birds, paint pictures, play the piano and grow flowers. 66 They collect everything from books to butterflies and from boxes to stamps。

People take up hobbies because these activities offer enjoyment, friendship and relaxation. Hobbies help people relax after a long time of hard work, and provide a balance (平衡) between work and play. Hobbies offer interesting activities for the old. Some hobbies can make a child grow as a person, develop his interest and help him learn new skills. 67 Doctors have found that hobbies are useful in helping patients (病人) recover (恢复) from illness. Hobbies give patients who can't move around something to do, and provide interests that keep them from thinking about themselves. Many hospitals treat (治疗) patients by having them take up interesting hobbies. 68

In early times, most people were too busy making a living to have many hobbies. But some persons who had spare time did enjoy hobbies. 69 People today have m ore time than ever before for hobbies. Machines have now reduced much time that people must spend on their jobs。

70 Those who have developed hobbies never need to worry about what to do with their newly-found free time hours。

Sir William Osler, a famous Canadian doctor expressed the value (价值) of hobbies by saying,