I was always interested in cooking but was not allowed to cook much..apart from noodles or warming up preprepared dishes. Serious cooking started when I was unemployed for 6 month and offered to cook for the family (6 people) until I could start the new job.
First it was mostly "safe" dishes like spaghetti or roast potatoes..but I practiced and read cookbooks and got better.
I still love cooking, have taken cooking lessons too and try to prepare at least one complete meal for my own family now. And I teach my children how to cook