October 11, 2019: Bored in Life?

'I'm bored.'

It is a common complaint, curiously, most mumbled by children and teens.

Why?

Ever wonder why it is not a common complaint among adults?

Well, I'll only speak from my experience of course.

As an adult, I have found that those moments of 'boredom' were in fact luxury items of youth.
My mother used to tell me that only boring people get bored.
There is some truth there.
But not what I imagined she meant at that time.
As an adult, I realize that now, unfortunately, most of our time is relegated to obligation and routine. We rush about our days always feeling that there is not enough time to get it all accomplished.

Boredom? Who has time for that?

And maybe, if we are lucky, there is some small pause which gives us a long enough breath to realize that it was in those moments of boredom where we actually were able to connect- to be that connection with ourselves, family, or the world around. It is in those slices of silence where we are able to meet ourselves stripped bare of distraction. And looking back on those moments, I realize the irony in being able to specifically remember them. For if they were indeed moments of boredom, moments of nothingness, would they hold space in my memory banks at all?
The true answer to that is no.
There must be wisdom, peace, truth, and me in those moments. It must be in those moments where I found little bits of myself.
And so, as an adult, who now appreciates and longs for those boring moments, I realize their value, and I seek ways to be bored again.