How We Can Be Inspired By Hobbits to Live a Healthier Life

The best thing we can do for ourselves right now, is to create a life that enchants us, one small action at a time.

“Saruman believes it is only great power that can hold evil in check, but that is not what I have found. I found it is the small everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay. Small acts of kindness and love.” — Gandalf (from the movie version of The Hobbit)

Tolkien has been my favorite author since I was a teenager, and what surprisingly hooked me, even then, was the prologue on Hobbits in The Fellowship of the Ring. Reading the whole part about their love of mushrooms captivated me. (Which was weird then. Most people skipped that part because they thought it was too long and boring, while I often returned to the book just to read that first part) And of course, the individual stories of Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin spoke to me of so much purity, courage, loyalty, and depth, that they were my favorite characters of the whole series.

Neil Gaiman famously said that “fairy tales are more than true; not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten”, and I found that Hobbits taught me a great deal about the modern dragons we face today.

In the face of despair, perseverance and loyalty are their constant companions. They choose each other at every obstacle they face, and find comfort in the pleasure of the senses - good food, good song, good walk in the forest, good rest, and so on. They slow down when the world is going too fast, and they embrace pleasure as a way to comfort their woes.

I have found myself returning to these lessons, especially when creating a healthier life for my body. In the face of increasing levels of stress from my journey and my environment, financial and political instability, and ecological destruction, I have found that returning to these small acts of wellness begets perseverance, which in turn begets hope, and enables me to thrive and grow in happiness, both mentally and physically.

I am grateful that such characters and stories exist to help me see and integrate the lessons in this way.

So in honor of Hobbit Day, I wanted to share some of the Hobbit-inspired activities I’ve integrated into my life in the past few years that have helped me slow down, feel enchanted by the small things in my life, and regulate my nervous system in the face of stressful periods.

Ask Family Members for Stories of Our Family

Especially stories about the generations that are gone. My grandparents have hundreds of anecdotes about their own parents and grandparents that I would have never heard had I not asked. It helps me to see where I come from, what has shaped us as a family, and to be grateful for the life I have now, thanks to those who came before.

There are great stories, and there are horrible ones, but it always brings comfort to the person sharing the story, because these stories get to be processed and shared. We get to spend time together, and also indirectly reflect on our sense of belonging and direction. My sense of identity also often strengthens in those moments, because I can see how the past has shaped my reality, and the immense power I have over it today.

Making Homemade Snacks

Apart from chocolate bars (especially the ones from Switzerland!!), I rarely buy snacks anymore. I make them from scratch. It makes my splurges more enjoyable, because I know what is in what I eat, and I know how it was made.

I aim to always have some snacks at hand, and to have a diversity of them. Sweet, salty, light, or heavy… I get to be more mindful of the ingredients I ingest while still indulging in cravings when they strike. With food, pleasure is as important as health.

I like to make popcorn, brownies, cinnamon rolls, tarts and cakes of all sorts, and so on. As I said, it’s a lot about pleasure - pleasure to make and pleasure to eat. It adds love to my food, and I believe that to be the strongest vitamin on earth.

Brew a Pot of Tea

I like to make a pot of tea for the house.

My red “Le Creuset” teapot is my most used kitchen tool. I blend some herbs (always medicinal, often from our own garden) and make a whole pot for the day. Everyone can take from it.

Our guests have started asking if they could get tea if it is empty when they come for a visit.

It takes a few minutes for me to make in the morning, but I get to drink from this medicinal liquid all day long. I make it a bit more powerful if sick season is nearby, or refreshing if it’s warm, or simply nurturing.

Go for walks in Nature

I relate to Tolkien as a tree-lover. I have lived near high mountains, wide valleys, lakes, and the ocean in short periods of time. But I have lived the longest next to a forest, and that feels most like home for me.

There is something so healing for the soul AND body to be surrounded by trees and plants, and it helps to move through a lot of thoughts and feelings.

The body has an easier time processing and letting go of things when it is moving. I always feel better and lighter after a walk. More grounded, more capable.

Read, Read, Read

When I was starting school, I struggled to read and write, and felt really bummed out about it. Both of my parents are avid readers, and our home has always been full of books (and as I grew older, how often would I go “I’d like to try reading this book maybe”, only to hear my parents go “oh we have that one! go get it upstairs, it’s great”).

In one car ride, I remember telling my dad that if I could have anything I wished, I would be good at French (as it is my mother tongue, that meant reading and writing). Sometimes I look back at that moment and wonder how strange it is for a 5-year-old to have that wish. But I guess I already felt inside of me that it would be a huge part of who I am.

He never made me feel bad for struggling. I actually felt like it didn’t bother him at all. He encouraged me and told me I was more than capable of figuring it out, and that if I didn’t, there were other things I would love and be good at.

And then comic books started appearing in the bathroom and the living room. I’m still not sure if he did that for me or for himself. Astérix and Obélix. Lucky Luke. Yakari. Calvin and Hobbes.

So I started reading wayyyy more.

And I still am.

There are periods of time I read less or more, and I like to try different genres. Classics tend to touch me the most (the Karamazov Brothers and The Count of Monte Cristo are two of the books that have impacted me the most).

As you can imagine, my reading and writing skills skyrocketed. But mostly my world widened, and my perspectives changed. I became more critical and more open at the same time. I discovered worlds I couldn’t have ever imagined.

And as an adult, I can feel that books still bring me peace and broadening. My eyes read faster and more easily when there is no screen, and I enjoy the feel of paper in my hands, but mostly I enjoy being impacted by the words and the stories. I enjoy learning new things. I enjoy seeing more of the world and understanding people more, while being seated on my couch.

Integrate Functional Analog Hobbies

I think hobbies are a must in life. I believe creativity is a necessity for thriving. I believe a variety of hobbies increases intelligence. And I believe in making sure that some of those hobbies are both analog and functional.

Knitting is my go-to for that. It’s incredibly peaceful, and in the end I have made something beautiful (hopefully) and useful (most likely). I remember reading a comment from someone saying that it’s hard to fall into Nietzschean despair when you’re looking at a pair of socks you just made. I found that to be true. For some reason (perhaps because that was the reality of our ancestors not too long ago), making things for our lives makes us feel safe. The functionality of the things I create brings me peace in a way that painting does not. It’s like I’m taking care of us, and that feels safe.

Repetitive movement is also a balm for the brain. Slow movement is a way our body calms and heals itself.

I’ve slowly started learning to sew, and am eyeing pottery from a distance. Sometimes I allow myself to daydream about a life in which I wear clothes I made and eat from plates I made. I guess I’m slowly making that dream a reality, one skill at a time.

Sit and Think

I’ve struggled with this for a long time, and it was reading Tolkien’s works that influenced me to try it for myself. I was always intrigued when the characters would sit (and maybe smoke) and think, until they had come to a resolve or decision.

How often do we simply sit to think? There was a time when I would not have one moment in the day with nothingness in it. I would always be doing something or watching or listening to something.

But man, did my brain need some white space to just think without stimulation. Lying in bed, staring at the ceiling, and thinking. Just thinking.

That resulted in me feeling less stressed and less weighed down. I still don’t do it every day, but I’m working my way to that.

There are many more “Hobbit” habits that I’m still integrating, or wanting to:

• Gardening more consistently

• Connecting with friends and family around food and drinks

• Making homemade gifts

• Learning, reciting, and creating poetry and songs

It can look like anything for you. But I found that being inspired by stories allows me to make things more concrete.

Perhaps going on adventures is as much a part of our life as it is theirs in their story, which is why I find that the small sustainable actions carry me through it all.

Overall, I’m deeply grateful that I am not the only one walking this journey. Others like me are creating lives that are simpler, pleasurable, and yet full of resilience and hope. Without that community, I would not be able to figure things out as I am now.

I hope this finds you well. May you have a wonderful Hobbit Day.

Stay radiant