Hobbies play a very important role in our lives. They occupy our minds when we are free and also make us happy. Hobbies are our escape from the real world that makes us forget our worries. Moreover, they make our lives interesting and enjoyable. If we look at it, all our hobbies are very useful for us. They teach us a lot of things about different stuff. They also help in expanding our knowledge.                                           During the leisure hours most people do something which they are interested in. Generally it is something other than their main and usual work. Although human life is full of worries,everybody gets some leisure time while preparing his/her duties. A hobby is something that a person does for the sake of amusement when he/she is away from work.                 In other words, without a hobby, your life becomes an unhealthy cycle lacking any excitement or spark. Hobbies offer you a great opportunity to take a break and forget the worries of your life. They allow you to explore yourself and realize your potential in different areas.                                              There are different kinds of hobbies,such as collecting stamp or some other rare materials, singing songs, reading stories and novels, drawing and painting pictures,playing games and visiting cinemas,etc. Some people have hobbies like walking, swimming and visiting different places.                                                          In my childhood I was very much interested in listening stories. My parents and my grandmother told me a large number of stories then. Since then a special interest for stories has been growing in me. Gradually it has becom my hobby and I am still continuing it. I read stories on Sundays and other   holidays because I get plenty of time  on these days for reading stories. I borrow story books from my friends and from our school library regularly. I often buy story books in the local market. Every year book fairs are held in our town. I visit the fairs and buy only story books. I am interested in reading stories about animals and birds. I have read all the stories of the Panchatantra. I have also collected a number of books on the folk tales of different contries.          Reading stories provides us anusement. It also enables us to improve our language ability. The themes of most of the stories are based on some moral education. They describe how to nobel persons are rewarded for their good deeds and dishonest people are punished for their wrong  doings.                                         Hobbies are a part of our day-to-day life. We should enjoy our lives with good hobbies and make them meaningful.