Bored-Bored-BORED

I'm fond of saying that I like my own company. Writing is a rather solitary occupation and I can get lost in it and not be very interested in doing other things.  Sometimes, the problem is---I bore me. 
 

Never mind that glassy eyed, gazing into the distance look that comes over some folk's face as my drawly voice washes them like a dog that won't stop licking, with a story.  I've got me, right? I've got the words on the page. 

 

The hubby has become practiced at faux expressions. 

"I saw that look," me.

 

"What look?  I don't know what the heck you're talking about," incredulous him.

 

"Oh, ho, ho-you know. Rolling your eyes, thinning your lips. I saw it."  (Our daughters always said, watch out if daddy gets that thin lipped look.)

 

He throws me his best fake smile, "Well honey, I'm always interested in what you're saying." With fifty years of practice at protecting his backside, he lies. Pure survival instinct.

 

It's true. Life---just isn't always exciting.  I tell myself, remember those old days when there was no time to be bored.  Those days of making a living, raising children and hoping you could feed them next week.  Lots of struggles and work and worrying to do---not a minute to be bored.

 

What bothers me is how much this generation, admittedly even our generation, has become so accustomed to sound bites, flashes of action on the television, short and sweet texts on the cell phone, a world that seems to be moving like an antique silent movie,  in double time choppy clips. We're so used to that speed of life that if there's a lull, a slow and silent lapse, we are bored.

 

I've always hated it when someone said, "I'm bored." The standard answer to a child, used to be, "Well Missy. I will sure find you something to do."  Of course, children, not unlike us all---don't really want to be occupied, they want to be entertained.  Work isn't bad medicine, though. The advice that probably rings the truest is get up off your bottom and move around. Movement, simple or active can be good for the body and soul.

 

Listing to yourself all the ways that you're fortunate is a good way to discourage your boredom. Reminding yourself of the wonders and beauty of our world (don't think about the crap), can help. We just have to look at those slow-w-w times as an opportunity to recoup and learn to relish them.  Every minute of our lives doesn't have to be full to the top and bustling with activity.  We don't have to be seeing, hearing, accomplishing something every waking moment.  Sometimes, it's okay to just sit, be thankful and breathe. At my age, I try to be thankful that I am breathing.