The Importance of Being Bored
A great article that I met via “The Week’s” March 28, 2008 issue that I couldn’t resist writing about:
The joy of boredom
Don’t check that e-mail. Don’t answer that phone. Just sit there. You might be surprised by what happens.
By Carolyn Y. Johnson March 9, 2008
Did you read it? A quote that jumped out at me was “When we’re writing deeply, writing thoughtfully, we are often trying to communicate with ourselves and trying to communicate what ultimately can’t be communicated — the greatest mysteries of the world: what is truth; what is beauty; what is being?” said Eric G. Wilson, an English professor at Wake Forest University and author of the new book, “Against Happiness.” I think this is what many of us are doing by blogging. It’s 100% what I am doing. If someone reads what I write, great! If not, I will have taken a few minutes to examine a spark of thought and perhaps learn more about myself or gain new understanding into the world I live in. Now while I am not necessarily “bored” I have taken the time to be introspective and have formalized this process for myself here. Comments merely expand the individual examination of a spark of thought and further kindle the fire. (Get it? Kindle? I couldn’t resist!)
Now when I am truly bored, I just go and stare out of my window at my garden. This relaxes me and always brings me great joy. I’m not sure I have important thoughts at that moment, but I am happy spending time with myself alone. I have to honestly say that I don’t find boredom a negative thing and am very happy with nothing to do. Not that I am always thinking big thoughts, sometimes it’s nice to think very small ones too.
As for our society in general though, I would so that we thrive on information overload. Email, mobile phones, mobile computing, the internet, etc. We have so many options and a limited amount of time to catch up with all the information we think we need from people and electronic and print sources that we are always interacting with people or data or media of some sort. This obviously doesn’t leave much time for thinking big thoughts. At least we still have the shower! Ever wonder why we have so many great ideas or remember important things in the shower? It could perhaps have to do with it being the only time we have left ourselves to think for longer than a minute or two.
It’s here! LeafNotes.whatMsg.com
My hobby and passion is gardening and LeafNotes is where you can now read all about it. It’s what I am doing when not keeping up with two toddlers or reading.
Today’s Print Reading List
- Seattle Times, entire March 26th edition (PRINT) with breakfast and lunch
- Daughter’s pre-school handbook (PRINT)
- People Magazine, latest issue (PRINT)
Approximate print reading time: 1.5 hours
Today’s Online Reading List
- Amazon.com- Kindle discussion forum to see when my Kindle might arrive.
- ESPN.com to see how my brackets are doing
- LeafNotes.whatMsg.com -more work on my gardening blog
Approximate online reading time: 2 hours
