Recently I noticed something I hadn't paid much attention to before. After completing the National Model Railroad Build Off diorama I got mildly and briefly depressed. Not enough to require medical assistance or psychological intervention (no shame to anyone who needs help from either) but enough to make me take notice. I had heard Adam Savage speak about this feeling he gets following the completion of a big project, and sure enough, that was what I was feeling. He talks about it at length in this video:
Here's what I can add from my recent experience; my post-project depression reminded me that I really enjoyed the process of making that diorama. I loved all four months of that work and part of the depression was knowing that after the work was done I'd be occupied with the greater life project of moving from one house to another, helping my Mom move in with us, and all the reorientation that goes along with that change of address. Not only was that diorama done, but making similar models was on hiatus indefinitely. That I am now even more excited to begin work on the next project is a good sign. Success breeds success and joy builds on joy.
To those folks out there who might say this is just a bunch of psychobabble because "It's just a hobby"...sorry, that's selling it short. That loaded phrase probably has a hundred reasons for why a person would say it and any time you hear it - whether from someone else, or echoing in your own head - don't believe it. I can't speak for anybody else, but this hobby is important to me. I feel great satisfaction being creative. Anything we create, great or small, is an expression of ourselves. While we do take a risk investing our resources, time and energy into such an thing that will be viewed by others, the work is worth the risk for the joy of creating.
