Sat in the waiting room of the dentist’s office, comments about the weather were inevitable. The wind and cold have been remarkable for the last month. The seniors gathered this morning for dental work only venture out when absolutely necessary. This can make for long hours in the house from self confinement.
One retiree present was a former Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer, born and raised on a farm on Prince Edward Island. He returned to the island on retirement and reminisced about his childhood on the farm outside Summerside.
“The snow was deep then and the cold was the same, but we forget that. We didn’t stay in the house though and weren’t dressed as well as the kids are today,” he said. “We spent time building forts with bales of hay in the hay loft or flooding a rink and skating all day.”
“One day, I told Dad I was bored,” he said.
His father told him, “Go to the first stall and clean it out. It hasn’t been done.” That stall held young calves.
The retired officer said, “I’ve never been bored since.” His father fixed that!
Our daughter has a rule in her home. “Bored is a word so we don’t say in this house,” she tells the kids.
The kids have learned to find something to fill their time. Believe me, a shortage of toys is not a problem. Playing outside is always an option too, at least when it’s not bitterly cold.
I cannot say I am ever bored. There is always something to do and boredom was never in my vocabulary as a child either. Books have filled endless hours. These days, I also enjoy photography and writing/blogging. Nature walks and hikes, during at least three seasons, are favourites as well.
Do you ever feel bored? How do you avoid boredom?
48 comments:
Sometimes, I guess. Or at least I might like to do something fresh when I am a little housebound in winter. But it's not a real or deep problem.
I get bored with television. So often I multi task. Ironing or stretching.....anything besides just staring at a screen. It’s on more than I like.
Yes, I have felt bored before! It is said that boredom makes you more creative. I believe it. However… I tend to read even more (or listen to eaudiobooks while doing other things), or go to the supermarket and look for new products, or go to the gym. If it is a sunny day, the sun will “heal” my boredom, I go out and take pictures.
I am rarely, if ever, bored. Sometimes I might find myself flipping through the channels on the TV looking for some entertainment, but mostly if I feel the need for a change, I'll go to the library and browse until I find some good books. Boredom isn't a usual part of my days. :-)
bored - aw no - i have a million hobbies. i also enjoy cooking, cleaning, tending to the house, anything and everything. i don't relax well, i enjoy being busy and busy i stay!! when i am tired from my busy day, i knit!!
gorgeous picture - i dislike dentist visits!!!
I have never been bored. It didn't exist as a concept in my childhood. If ever we appeared unoccupied, we were told "Find something to do." The solution was always to be doing something. It becomes quite the cycle, with no mental evaluation involved.
I too am one of those people who are never bored. I figure if you're bored, it's your own damn fault!
I don't really understand being bored most of the time. I can understand not liking a certain task, or finding it dull and boring. But at home you usually have the option to find something pleasant to occupy your time.
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I don't know. I think it's cool to just veg and do nothing, be still for a bit.
As kids we didn't have digital devices and we were told to bring things on road trips so that we wouldn't be bored. I wrote, drew and read. Still do today but I enjoy a bit of do nothing time. I enjoy the quiet.
Happy Weekend!
I keep too busy to get bored.
Fantastic barn in that picture!
With all the cold weather here lately, it seems easy to feel bored but we have been playing cards and board games and reading and watching movies.
Every once in a great while I get bored and it makes me very grumpy. I have no idea why this feeling comes over me. There is always this and that to do and it keeps my life interesting the majority of the time. But every once in a great while nothing I have to do seems interesting. At least I always find that interesting. I have yet to figure out what this boredom is really about.
I have no idea what boredom is. It has never existed in my life, simply not enough hours in the day. I seldom have time to even glance at the TV! Take care Diane
I too grew up in a household where those who appeared to have nothing to do, or who said they were bored, were found a task. Quickly.
And no, boredom is not an issue for me. There is always more than enough to see, to do, to learn. And books are a wonderful escape route.
I don't get bored at all. There is always books right across me to pick through, photos to take, walks and writing. I want to start making paper this year so I can mount some of my photos. Time needs to be expanded for the hours of a day. I could use some.
Like others who have commented I never get bored, lonely, yes but never bored. I have lived alone for 22 years with very little contact with the outside world. I now have so many hobbies from stained glass, calligraphy, painting, reading and writing short stories etc. All that combined with cooking (a passion!) doing odd jobs around the house, cleaning and a bit of gardening, now there are not enough hours in the day to fit it all in!
If I feel bored, it is time to take on a new challenge. I have been taking some digital learning courses one on language and sentence structure and another on the history of Eastern Europe. I also watch videos on photography for challenge. Never bored, but sometimes in winters I o get cabin fever.
Who could be bored when the grandkids are around, AC?
The tv is on here but I am usually at something else too, Linda.
I can’t wait for the warmer weather, Catarina!
Books are wonderful friends, Jan!
It is easy to fill one’s life after retirement I discovered, Debbie. Wish I could knit!
I so agree, Joanne. I hear people say they are bored. It is so strange to me.
So true, Debra.
Agreed, Danielle.
That’s great, William.
Those are great activities, Jenn.
Sometimes it’s good to have nothing to do and just relax, Barbara. That works for me sometimes too.
That is great, Diane.
I so agree, EC. When I can’t go somewhere physically, a book does the job.
It is great when one’s life is full like that, Bill.
That is wonderful, Keith!
The threadmill is not a good replacement for a walk outdoors, but it has to suffice this time of year, Tabor.
Have to say, like yourself, I always found something to do. The retiree sounded interesting - there's something nice about listening to people talking about how things were back in the day.
Bored? One can never get bored with internet access (always something interesting to read about), a library nearby (lots of good books to read), grandchildren (energetic little people to keep me on my toes), art supplies (always drawing, painting etc), Netflix on snowy evenings (I'm currently watching The Crown), and friends to visit. I love having lots to do.
Ohh I would love to have been there at that dentist waiting room listening to their stories. It's wonderful to hear how people lived years ago. Indeed the youth now a days are very spoiled. They have at their hands so many technological toys and other resources as well and they are more than ever bored and wants every thing given in their hands. I almost never get bored but sometimes get a bit of cabin fever. Have a great weekend Marie!
I agree. Do nothing time is wonderful too but I don’t find it boring, HW.
Well, I've been bored, but only in the weeks after surgery or something. Reading, writing, photography, walking Keep me busy.
Oh I am so with you on this Marie.. I honestly don't ever get bored. Seriously I don't understand that word ☺ I looooove it when I get time with 'nothing' to do, reading is top of the list whenever that happens ✨
A waiting room is a great place to meet people and learn something, Ann.
Life is too precious to waste time, Shammi.
Waiting rooms are great places, never boring either.
Healing time can be boring for sure, FG.
I love that time to veg too, PDP.
Such a pretty building.The photo is very lovely. Looks calm and very cold and it is telling stories in the place. I always wonder about the people that live and work away from my place.
Have a good day.
Although I'm sure there have been times in my life I've experienced boredom, I truly don't remember them, as it has always seemed there isn't enough time to do everything I'd like to do. But I think it's easier for people who like to read. We don't depend on the weather or other people :)
It was cold but pleasant, Tomoko.
A book is a great companion, isn’t it, Jenny?
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