It's Boring to Be Bored

Lately, several people have told me they are bored. That set me thinking. Why am I never bored? After pondering about it, I thought of several possible reasons. First, there are so many things that interest me, things I want to learn about, or do, or create, that whenever there is time in which nothing is required of me, there is always something I want to do.

Second, there is no idea in my mind that somebody, or something, will come along to entertain me, or save me, or fix me in any way. I am responsible to myself for myself. Of course, I didn't believe this when I was young--it was sort of forced on me by life. Back then, things I wanted to happen weren't happening, so I had to learn to find my way by myself, which leads into the third thought.

In looking for answers on my own, I eventually discovered that Abraham Lincoln was right when he said, "People are about as happy as they make up their minds to be." But I must admit that when I first read this, I snorted in disbelief. Easy for him to say! Then, as time went on, I found that doing things I love to do, spending time with people I feel comfortable with, and treating people the way I'd like to be treated, gave me a feeling of satisfaction and joy. I saw that happiness is not something you can hunt for like a pot of gold, or a hidden gem; it's a by-product of how you are living and thinking.

I hope every person reading this, who feels bored, will be able to find something they are interested in, something to do, or see, or become involved in, something that doesn't depend on some other person doing it with you or for you. That doesn't mean other people can't be involved, but that the idea must come from within you, that you really love doing it, and that you can do it on your own. Try it! You might be pleasantly surprised.