When all the cheap entertainments run dry, the cable is out, the books have been read, the movies all watched, the conversations exhausted, then you’re truly left to your own devices. This is where creativity thrives, after some bumps along the road. Either your fantasy life will explode with color or you’ll make art.
When I was a kid, I couldn’t stand being bored, not having easy distractions for all the hours of the day. The worst sort of torture was having to go to church. No offense to people who like that sort of thing, but I found it incredibly boring, tortuously so, and I wasn’t there by choice. However, in my wise old age, I have to say that I’m very grateful to my parents for forcing that and other “boring” times on me. It really taught me a lot about being by myself and exercising my imagination.
It baffles me when any adult complains about being bored. Being uninterested in something, like work – that, I can understand, but bored? In your free time? Never. I mean, I’ll get slightly bored in that I don’t have any easy distractions (our mindless media overload), but then I quickly slip into something interesting, either a thought or an activity (writing, etc.), pursuing something that will touch me just a little bit deeper than the facile absorption of someone else’s creative output.
There are just so many fascinating aspects to life, especially the human experience. Just shut your eyes, block your ears and concentrate on your breathing for 5 minutes. Then open up and look/listen around – even you are fascinating. Don’t wallow in boredom, relish in creativity – draw a picture or make a little dance, you’ll feel better. Sometimes little kids really do know what is best. 🙂
