Ampersand Answers: The Cure for Boredom

 “I don’t know where I’m going from here, but I promise it won’t be boring.”
David Bowie
MEInk, 1.1.26 

The Question: 

How do I avoid boredom in this life? 

&mpersand Answers: 

Sad to say, dear one, but boredom is a decision. For real. I believe it’s actually a symptom of a culturally systemic problem—that being … coolness, a subset of cynicism. 

Yup. Cynicism is at the root of boredom. Dig a little. You’ll find your own. 

And, you don’t really avoid boredom, which is, in effect, asking how to work toward what you don’t want. Free Won’t, remember? 

Instead, what you’re really asking is: how do I fire up my passions? More, how do I find my passions, and fire them up? 

The universal cure for boredom is curiosity. 

If you’re “bored,” (I am reminded of Willow from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. “Bored now.”) If you’re bored, you think you know something you probably don’t know, and if you’ll just take one teensy, tiny step toward a question—any question!—the boredom will slink away for lack of attention. 

So, you think you know everything about your daughter’s ballet class that you could possibly know … because you took ballet when you were her age. Uh-huh. But you’re not her, are you? Ask her how she feels about … her teacher, the studio, her costumes, ballet itself. There’s your curiosity, and boredom flies out the window. 

The coolest, and yes, I chose that word on purpose, is that there is no cure for curiosity. 

In fact, staying curious is one of the best ways I know to find your passions, fire up your passions, and unite instead of divide. When you’re curious, belovèd, you’re open, educable, willing to learn. Try it. You’ll see.

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