The topic of boredom is such a good one to reflect on as I emerge from over a hundred days of lockdown in Sydney.
Like you, I’ve also grown to appreciate boredom. Boredom can be a good friend in disguise. It taps us on our shoulder that it’s time to solve a problem.
During the pandemic, baking sour dough turned into a global passion, games were sold out and going for walks became a lockdown sports.
As for myself, I made the following choices.
1. I binged on You Tube videos and quickly became an addict. Say no more.
2. I went online shopping for clothes, shoes, rugs and golf aids that promised to improve my appearance, my home and my golf. Sadly, none of them worked. I’m too old to not know this already but when there was so little excitement on offer that shopping became irresistible.
3. I bought a sewing machine and got as far as reading the instruction manual. Did you know that there were two threads involved? I didn’t. This was probably when the lockdown started to bite.
4. I took on a home improvement project to put lawn in the concrete backyard. Having no prior experience, I watched them grow strand by strand very slowly. I think I’ll have a brown backyard for a very long time.
5. I cooked all my meals and baked for entertainment. That was good. What started as a necessity turned out to be a lot of fun. I loved the moment when food changed state and transformed into something else. Magic!
6. Last but not least, every now and then, I did absolutely nothing and didn’t feel guilty. The pressure to be busy waned over an extended lock down. There were no appointments, no schedules, no plans and no obligations. I let go of the idea to be productive and found freedom in just being with myself. It’s a bit like meeting up with an old friend again.
The obstacle is the way. What impedes you propels you - Marcus Aurelius.
The dissatisfaction of boredom propelled us to create, develop and to re-invent.
Hi David,
The topic of boredom is such a good one to reflect on as I emerge from over a hundred days of lockdown in Sydney.
Like you, I’ve also grown to appreciate boredom. Boredom can be a good friend in disguise. It taps us on our shoulder that it’s time to solve a problem.
During the pandemic, baking sour dough turned into a global passion, games were sold out and going for walks became a lockdown sports.
As for myself, I made the following choices.
1. I binged on You Tube videos and quickly became an addict. Say no more.
2. I went online shopping for clothes, shoes, rugs and golf aids that promised to improve my appearance, my home and my golf. Sadly, none of them worked. I’m too old to not know this already but when there was so little excitement on offer that shopping became irresistible.
3. I bought a sewing machine and got as far as reading the instruction manual. Did you know that there were two threads involved? I didn’t. This was probably when the lockdown started to bite.
4. I took on a home improvement project to put lawn in the concrete backyard. Having no prior experience, I watched them grow strand by strand very slowly. I think I’ll have a brown backyard for a very long time.
5. I cooked all my meals and baked for entertainment. That was good. What started as a necessity turned out to be a lot of fun. I loved the moment when food changed state and transformed into something else. Magic!
6. Last but not least, every now and then, I did absolutely nothing and didn’t feel guilty. The pressure to be busy waned over an extended lock down. There were no appointments, no schedules, no plans and no obligations. I let go of the idea to be productive and found freedom in just being with myself. It’s a bit like meeting up with an old friend again.
The obstacle is the way. What impedes you propels you - Marcus Aurelius.
The dissatisfaction of boredom propelled us to create, develop and to re-invent.
It is indeed a privilege.