How often have I wished for the attic of my boredom when the complications of life made me lose the very germ of all freedom!
—The Poetics of Space, Gaston Bachelard
I've been thinking a lot about boredom and how we don't have to do it anymore. From a single device that fits in my pocket I can manifest music or a story, lovingly recounted; read thousands of books; scope trends or talk to people I already know. I never have to be alone again—or reach earnestly outside myself, seeking stimulation or solace.
More and more lately, I miss the grasping boredom of childhood that made time stretch and forced games out of dirt. So my latest project has been cultivating boredom, forcing myself to switch off and let my gaze wander.
I'm loath to report any benefits of this, because I think we're all a little too focused on silver bullets for productivity. I don't want everything in my life to amount to a better way to work. But I think it's given me a better way to be. To be continued.
Photo Credit: april-mo Flickr via Compfight cc
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What is "Inklust"? Boy am I glad you asked. Here's the manifesto: part I and part II.
