From Books to Trapeze: What My Hobby Has Taught Me About Growth

Growing up, I was never the type to join many extracurricular activities, especially not physical or performance-based ones. While others were on stage or playing sports, I was happiest curled up with a book or deep into a documentary. I guess you could say I was your classic nerd. And I wore that badge proudly!

When I moved to Australia, life became even more focused. Studying, working multiple jobs, and settling into a new country left little time for hobbies. My days were full, and I was proud to be supporting myself, alongside my loving and supportive partner, who was always there to cheer me on.

Eventually, things stabilised. I found a secure job, had weekends free, and suddenly… there was space. For the first time in years, I had time, lots of time. But what do you do when you finally have time, and no idea how to spend it?

So I experimented. I tried the gym, running, and bouldering, each one a step outside my comfort zone. Then I found trapeze. Something about it sparked joy. My inner child lit up at the thought of flying through the air, imagining I was performing with Cirque du Soleil. And just like that, I signed up for a class. What I didn’t expect was how much this new hobby would teach me, not just physically, but professionally and personally.

Trapeze has challenged me in ways that no textbook ever could. For most of my life, learning came relatively easily. I could read, absorb, analyse, problem-solve and replicate. If my brain could understand something, my body usually followed. But trapeze? My brain knew exactly what to do, and my body? It said, “Nope!”

That disconnect was humbling. And exactly what I needed.

Learning trapeze (and aerial silks) has helped me reconnect with what it feels like to be a beginner. To feel frustration, self-doubt, and fear, and to keep showing up anyway. It’s taught me patience. Not just with myself, but with others. I’ve come to appreciate how different forms of intelligence, physical, emotional, and intuitive, play out in all areas of life, including the workplace.

It reminded me how essential it is to let go of control, to trust the process, and to laugh when I fall (literally and figuratively). It’s strengthened my body, yes, but even more so, it’s strengthened my resilience. It’s given me insight into how we grow not just through knowledge, but through experience, discomfort, and trying again.

So now, when I talk about professional development or personal growth, I think about trapeze. I think about showing up, even when it’s hard. I think about giving myself, and others, permission to struggle, to be awkward, to be new at something. Because that’s where growth lives.

And every now and then, when I’m hanging from the bar and silks, swinging through the air with a grin on my face, I smile at the version of me who thought she was “just a nerd.” She had no idea how high she could fly.

This is me, performing in the Adelaide Fringe 2025