Simon Pegg, the versatile actor and straight-up comedian, had one thing to say on a podcast that has shifted my entire life perspective.

For many years now I’ve peddled the same advice to people when they’ve said they’re not sure what to do next in their life and/or career, and that is to follow their hobbies. Not necessarily because that’ll be what you will do full-time, but because it could lead to other things.

For example, in 2017 I was living in Manchester, England and growing ever-frustrated with my retail job. I was nearing the end of my twenties and wanted something totally different and worthwhile but I wasn’t sure what. I have always been a film buff and even had hopes of acting after studying drama at university and doing amateur theatre for years, but as that hadn’t come to fruition, I decided to put my constant movie-watching to good use and distract myself from my *real* job. So, on January 1st 2018, I launched my film review/content site Dawn of the Tapes.

In August of that year, I went to see a film (I forget which one) and saw a trailer for a Korean film. I was highly intrigued by it, and when I looked it up, it was actually a sequel. I promptly watched the first film then went to see the second. I knew practically nothing about South Korea at that point, typical ignorant Brit that I was, and that film opened up a whole new world for me and was basically the beginning of the next seven years (and counting) of my life, as I have now been living in Korea for over four years.

“Follow your hobbies,” was my advice, generally followed by “but don’t make it your living – don’t shit where you eat.” Meaning, don’t let your hobby become your job because you may come to resent something that once brought you joy.

I have been staunch on that until I listened to another of Michael Rosenbaum‘s Inside of You podcast interviews, this time with Simon Pegg. It coincided with months of feeling like I am ready to find something new to do, preferably something that I can cement myself in and call a career. Something to finally get me to settle in one place and put down some roots, wherever in the world that may be, while simultaneously allowing me the freedom to come and go as I please. But just “following my hobbies” hasn’t been pumping out much inspiration for me. Not until my hobby of listening to podcasts brought me to Simon Pegg saying the following:

“Find the thing that you love to do and get paid for it.”

BUT MR. PEGG, there’s a lot of fear and risk involved when trying to get paid to do something you love. What if it can’t sustain you financially? What if you’re a full-grown adult and have to ask for help because you have to start from scratch, denting your pride and making you feel like a burden? What if it fails and you have to go back to doing something you don’t like in order to make ends meet? What if? What if?? WHAT IF?!?!

But then you remember all the people who have let opportunities pass them by and been saddled with regret. You remember that you’ve lost people at various ages who still had so much they could have done. You remember that you’re lucky enough to have supportive friends and family. You remember that you only live once (probably) and that could end at any time.

You think, fuck it.

Alright, Pegg. You’ve helped me realise that I’m getting too old to not enjoy what I’m doing. I’m getting too old to be restricted to contracts that dictate my life, to be putting my energy into something that adds little, if anything, to my life, to be racing towards forty and realising nearly half my life (and that’s if I’m lucky) is over. You’ve also helped me realise that maybe, just maybe, I’ve practiced enough and gained a sack-full of (life) experience that enables me to start taking things more seriously. (More practice and learning is needed, for sure, but I’m fully here for it.)

Maybe it’s time to freak out and take a risk.

And if shit hits the fan? Well…

“Let’s go to the Winchester, have a nice cold pint, and wait for all of this to blow over.”

Wish me luck, because 2026 is going to be about trying to make this writing thing, whether that be reviews, articles and/or novels, a thing.