Yes. Quite a few, actually.
Not because they were bad or frivolous, but because I changed.
There was a time when I loved the thrill of being everywhere at once – saying yes to every invitation, every committee, every event, every networking opportunity that promised “visibility.” I thought busyness was a personality trait and exhaustion was a badge of honour.
I’ve outgrown that.
I used to enjoy the performative parts of professional life – the small talk, the forced smiles, the endless cycle of showing up simply to be seen. Somewhere along the way I realised I didn’t actually like rooms filled with people I had to impress. I liked rooms where I could be myself.
So I lost interest in performing.
I’ve also outgrown hobbies that required me to shrink.
Activities I only did because they looked good on a résumé or because “people like us” were supposed to enjoy them. I used to collect interests like accessories – book clubs I didn’t really read for, fitness trends I pretended to love, social circles I didn’t feel safe in.
Over time, I stopped.
These days my hobbies are quieter. Slower. More honest.
Long walks with my dogs. Cooking meals that taste like home. Writing. Reading without needing to finish the book. Sitting with a glass of wine and a sunset instead of rushing to the next thing. Protecting my peace as fiercely as I once protected my calendar.
What I’ve really outgrown is urgency.
I’ve lost interest in anything that asks me to be less than myself or more than human.
And that, I’ve learned, is not a loss at all. It’s growth.
Sarala Life — Life in Chapters: Careers, Canines, Cabernet & Courage 
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