BOREDOM IS A CHOICE.

As you look forward to more leisure time in the summer, will your parents be hearing you say, "I’m bored. There’s nothing to do." ? If so, you have made a choice. Nobody has to be bored. When my children lived at home, they all had access to our books, our games, our craft materials, bikes, a piano and guitar, cassette players, and many other items that could be put to good use indoors and out. (We did not, though, have a television or any electronic games.) My daughter was always claiming to be bored. But my son never seemed to have the time to pursue all his interests. Why? Because boredom comes from letting others be responsible for amusing you rather than you taking responsibility to learn and grow as a person.

Summer is a wonderful time to learn something new or improve old skills. You can devote time to a hobby, read a good book, learn to play an instrument, volunteer to help others with your skills , or enjoy the great outdoors with family and friends. A person who has enough interests is never bored. Here are some ideas if you need a little help.

1. Start a neighborhood story hour with a couple of friends. Invite the little people in your neighborhood to sit under a tree while you and your friends read stories to them. You will be doing a real service, and their mothers will bless you.

2. Write letters to missionaries and older relatives you never see. It will mean the world to them. Encourage your younger siblings to enclose pictures they have drawn.

3. Read a really good book.

4. Learn to cook three or four complete dinners that your family members really like. or try new recipes until you have a specialty.

5. Learn to draw or do origami, or improve on those skills.

6. Make paper planes and fly them.

7. How long since you’ve played jacks or marbles, or jumped rope? Try it again.

8. Climb a tree. Or better yet, make a treehouse. Or a fort. Or for a new twist, make something with adobe bricks you make yourself.

9. Start making Christmas cards and presents now while you have lots of time. Invite your friends over, make popcorn, and go to it.

10. Start a
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 and earn some money.

If you need some help in pursuing an interest or learning about a new hobby or skill, see our article Books to Get You Through the Summer.

This is a reprint from Books, Pens, and People, Issue 4
A publication of Barb's People Builders
Ó Barbara Radisavljevic, 1997

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