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. Then enter our writing contest.
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 business
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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