This is a very perplexing question
@mysterionz , I have never thought of this , I think some are extremely natural for me ,in my DNA as mentioned by
@Silhouette Mirage . And others are found and something resonates with us about it.
Natural interests for me . Music
My earliest memories are of this . When I was a child I felt like the outside world was foreign to me and quite honestly a blur. As compared to in my mind it was vivid with swirling sounds communicating to each other , like I can almost see the waves of vibrations and music like it’s a language my natural language.
As I got older and adults kept pulling me out of my dream states I was not able to be there as much
While be pulled out of my Autistic self and mind , I was taught to communicate properly with people around me with language . I felt I lost some of my first born language (music ) by doing this .
But I was able to sit at a piano with my grandmother who was a piano player before I could walk , and understand this as a tool to speak what is in my head .
And also just sitting organizing my matchbox cars listening my dad write songs and play guitar , especially lots of Jimi Hendrix , I would study the language of a guitar
So then as I got older , I taught myself the same concept on Guitars , Drums, Organs , Piano Mandolins , Bass Guitar . etc
And this started a special interest in studying anything musical from , bands , instruments, writing music , and 1000s of hours playing multiple instruments. And learning the craft of writing .
As where others like history . I got into by just being interested in it in school it helped me to understand people and cultures ,
The same with art , I like how pictures speak to me , like your art work here, and everyone else as well . I can feel something from the composition , colors and lines .
So the best way I can explain think it is both . Sorry for the rant