BORED, BORED, BORED!
When we feel stuck in a boring situation, it's tempting to blame other people. At least that gives us something to do! We get angry and feel self-righteous. We complain that life's "not fair". Boredom comes out of believing that we're responsible for occupying ourselves, and for some reason, our well of entertaining ideas and preoccupations has gone dry. This happens to some of us who use work to medicate our feelings. When we haven't anything else to do, and the feelings start to surface, we become irritable and afraid and angry. Rather than sit and wait for a feeling or an inspiration to move us, we try to control things and force something to happen. When nothing happens, we feel stuck and bored.
Basically what's needed is a shift in our perception or attitude. If we can shift the way we're seeing things, life will present a focus for us. When we're bored and feeling sorry for ourselves, we just have trouble seeing it!
One of the best cures for boredom is to give up the control of our moment to moment program; to "turn it over" to our Higher Power. If we can just sit quietly and serenely for a few minutes, something will come our way. It may be a fly we didn't notice. The phone may ring, or we'll simply become aware of things around us that we didn't see before. We feel feelings that can finally make their way to our surface. We can retrace memories. We can cry if we need to, laugh, chuckle, reminisce, or dream. We're no longer responsible planning every minute. Isn't that a relief? We can discover people like Willow right in front of us. We just couldn't see them as potential playmates when we were bored.
If none of this works, we can put our hand on our heart and feel it beat. We have a limited number of heartbeats, so why use them up being bored? If we're bored, changing our state is up to us.
Many children and some adults are very frank when they're bored and they say exactly what they're feeling. It's important to take care of ourselves and set boundaries by removing ourselves from unpleasant boring situations.
1. BORED, BORED, BORED!
D G A D
Why can't Mommy take me to the beach?
G D G A
Why can't Daddy peel me a peach?
Bm A G Bm
Why can't Grandma take me to the zoo?
G A A7
I'm just a little kid and there's nothing here to do!
D A D A D
No one ever plays with me, I'm bored, bored, bored!
G D
And my little sister Willow is bored too!
G D Bm
No one ever plays with me, I'm bored, bored, bored!
D A G A D
How come everyone but Willow has got something else to do!?
Where is George, my basset hound?
When I need him, he's nowhere to be found
If I had food, he'd come running like a fool
Slobbering all over me with basset hound drool!
Why did Hannah have to go to camp?
Why did Tommy have to have a cramp?
Why did Eric have to have the mumps?
It's all their fault, that I have got the grumps!
All my toys have gone to bed
All my books have all been read
All my games have all been played (sigh!)
I'm stuck with Willow, . . I'm afraid, . .
Music and Lyrics by Peter Alsop, ©1983, Moose School Music (BMI)
from "Wha'D'Ya Wanna Do?" CD - http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/peteralsop1
EXERCISES: Sit quietly for one minute and shut your eyes. What pictures or ideas come into your mind? If
you relax your whole body, your mind will give you ideas for things to do! Share some of the things you do
when you are bored.
QUESTIONS: Do you like to be alone sometimes? When? When do you usually get bored? Do you ever
talk to yourself and discuss some possible fun things to do? Who can help you the most when you are bored?
Do you blame someone else when you are feeling bored and grumpy? Can you get your body to help your mind
think of something to do? Do your eyes see something interesting? Do your ears hear something? What do
your hands feel?
DISCUSSION: Put your hand on your heart and feel it beating. We only have a limited number of heartbeats to
use up, so why use them up being bored? It's our own job to keep from being bored. There is always something
to learn or do. There is always someone like Willow who is feeling a little lonely too, and waiting to
be discovered. When we're bored and feeling sorry for ourselves, we just have trouble seeing them!