Boredom isn’t stillness. Boredom is an indicator I need to be still. It’s in that quieting down I often find the desire to play, if only for a little while. Or in this stillness, I may find I need to eat something I take time preparing for myself. Boredom indicates there’s time for something. Maybe a nap? I raised my 3 kiddos with “if you’re bored, find something to do or I will find something for you to do “. They found something to do other than complain. As I recall, they chose fun things they enjoyed and I didn’t hear any more whining. Now, I would teach them stillness. It’s in the quieting down, I can pinpoint what will rejuvenate me. How do you handle boredom?
This is so interesting--that for you, boredom leads to stillness, then leads to elsewhere. For me, boredom translates to a restlessness, and I can't go directly to still without some other step. Like that "wind down" time when one has late shift, and needs to recover from work before sleeping.
So I move from boredom with some push to curiosity (those words to your kids!), get engaged with something, maybe someone, or go for a walk--moving often helps. Then I can be still.
Yes, my boys would find things to do--often things that meant creating with their hands. We had a lot of cardboard and paper around! And real scissors. They'd be so thrilled to use real scissors that they sit quietly cutting out shapes. I remember one Christmas, my mother-in-law had received a gift of a perfume set in a very fancy box...that my son set on its side to create a building with archways, and he cut figures out of Christmas cards (go for it, kid!) and created a nativity scene diorama.
For being still, they would listen to cassette tapes, wonders such as Jeremy Irons narrating The Tin Soldier. (I'd be standing around the corner, listening too--so SAD! But in that voice!) After the listening, they would just sit and ponder.
The next time I feel bored/restless, before I think of something to "do," I'm going to try stillness first. And see if I can turn it around. Thank you, Denelle!
Oh that was so much fun to imagine the scenes you described. I felt like I watched signettes of your life! Well, I love the journey and am the zebra that needs to calm down! However we get there, quiet is so pleasant to listen to.
Boredom isn’t stillness. Boredom is an indicator I need to be still. It’s in that quieting down I often find the desire to play, if only for a little while. Or in this stillness, I may find I need to eat something I take time preparing for myself. Boredom indicates there’s time for something. Maybe a nap? I raised my 3 kiddos with “if you’re bored, find something to do or I will find something for you to do “. They found something to do other than complain. As I recall, they chose fun things they enjoyed and I didn’t hear any more whining. Now, I would teach them stillness. It’s in the quieting down, I can pinpoint what will rejuvenate me. How do you handle boredom?
This is so interesting--that for you, boredom leads to stillness, then leads to elsewhere. For me, boredom translates to a restlessness, and I can't go directly to still without some other step. Like that "wind down" time when one has late shift, and needs to recover from work before sleeping.
So I move from boredom with some push to curiosity (those words to your kids!), get engaged with something, maybe someone, or go for a walk--moving often helps. Then I can be still.
Yes, my boys would find things to do--often things that meant creating with their hands. We had a lot of cardboard and paper around! And real scissors. They'd be so thrilled to use real scissors that they sit quietly cutting out shapes. I remember one Christmas, my mother-in-law had received a gift of a perfume set in a very fancy box...that my son set on its side to create a building with archways, and he cut figures out of Christmas cards (go for it, kid!) and created a nativity scene diorama.
For being still, they would listen to cassette tapes, wonders such as Jeremy Irons narrating The Tin Soldier. (I'd be standing around the corner, listening too--so SAD! But in that voice!) After the listening, they would just sit and ponder.
The next time I feel bored/restless, before I think of something to "do," I'm going to try stillness first. And see if I can turn it around. Thank you, Denelle!
Oh that was so much fun to imagine the scenes you described. I felt like I watched signettes of your life! Well, I love the journey and am the zebra that needs to calm down! However we get there, quiet is so pleasant to listen to.