Don't declare yourself "officially bored" until you ask yourself:
There are times that are just inherently boring. I get that. Times when you're trapped somewhere, waiting to do something, or obligated to perform some drudgery.
But even then, in my opinion boredom is an option we choose--a decision we make. I decided early in life that if I was bored it was my own fault.
Of course, we creative types have lots of options at our disposal for Been Creative?, but creative is a state of mind. There are creative possibilities in almost any situation (it helps if there's a streak of anarchy in your system sometimes, too).
For instance: Stuck at the DMV (as I was recently)? If your local DMV doesn't have the nifty "Q-Less" feature that cuts wait times dramatically, consider what might happen if aliens landed in the parking lot outside, or a couple of madmen with paintball guns came running through?
You'll notice the suggestions in the acrostic will work for children of all ages--including Outside Play (helps to have kids or dogs on hand, but lots of things count as "play." Got golf clubs? A tennis racquet? Hiking gear?). For a list of 27 other crazy outdoor game ideas check BuzzFeed's list.
Read a Book? Well, duh. I never leave home without one, if I can help it. Books open the world of the possible for people of all ages. I bet you'll enjoy this TED Talk.
Exercised? This is almost the same thing as "Outdoor Play," for many of us--but it sounds suspiciously diligent. How about changing the "E" to Explored Something? Explorations take many forms.
And you might be surprised how much fun you can have with Done Something Helpful? Did you know that other people's work is always more fun than our own? (Another surprising lesson from childhood). Again, the creative possibilities are endless. Engage your empathy to see who needs help, then come up with pleasant ways to give them a hand--like this young man, spotlighted by the Huffington Post.
Whatever you dream up, don't forget to follow through! And if you can offer your own creative cure for boredom, leave suggestions in the form of comments!
IMAGE: Many thanks for the acrostic image from Planet Smarty, and for the "van unicorn" from Kristin Lamb's Blog. Thank you, BuzzFeed and Mallory McInnis for the "Frozen T-Shirt Race" image. Many thanks to TED Talks and The Huffington Post for the two videos.
Or maybe it's your idea of a "treasure island"?
If you're like most of my friends, reading is one of life's best joys--or, at least, I hope that for you! I can't imagine a creative summer for anyone of any age without chances to voyage to the far shores of the imagination, via books.
Summer reading is one of the best ways a child can stay fluent and avoid the dreaded summer slump. My friend Veda Jairrels has made a strong case for reading as a massive help against the achievement gap in this country. She's founded a group on Facebook, the 2000 Book Movement, and groups such as 1000 Books Before Kindergarten are helping turn the idea into a movement.
But reading is wonderful for people of all ages. It opens us to new ideas and in some cases whole new worlds--or gives us better tools for dealing with the world where we live. Whether you prefer traditional "dead trees" books, e-books on a reader or pad, or audio versions--or whether you like to mix all three types--reading is foundational to a well-rounded intellectual life.
Oh, and while you're reveling in the riches of the written word . . . don't forget to support your community's library and shop at independent, locally-owned bookstores! Those are community resources we really don't want to lose.
IMAGE: Many thanks to DMCI Homes for the "quilt and books" image, and to the Middletown Public Library for the "1000 Books Before Kindergarten" image.
Talk about your classic summer experience . . .
My sister and I never exactly "camped out" in the back yard, but we slept on the screened-in back porch, and also in the playhouse.
I was a bit older when I actually got a chance to camp out "for real." But my kids definitely knew the joys of camping out in the back yard (as well as in the living room or playroom in tents or large boxes, as part of memorable winter and early-spring birthday party-sleepovers).
One of my themes this month is a sort of pre-summer warm-up of the creative juices.
For you it might not be backyard camping, but here's my challenge to you:
Do something different and fun (emphasis on the fun) this week. Something off-the-wall that you would normally not do--and that makes you feel like laughing out loud from pleasure.
Then share a comment below, about what you did. Let's compare notes and see what interesting things people came up with!
IMAGE: Many thanks to "Tinkerlab" for the image!
Here's a follow-up to my Wednesday post: a list originally designed for kids and their parents. But read it over and think: wouldn't you find a lot of these ideas fun? No matter how old or young you are?
Creative people never quite completely "grow up." It's how so many of us live to vigorous old age, still creating, still learning, still growing.
This summer, take the time to spread your wings. Explore! Enjoy! Dare to reach beyond the normal, whatever that is for you!
IMAGE: Many thanks to Carried Away Ministries for the list of "101 bits of summer fun"! How many will YOU try?
