“Bliss—a second-by-second joy and gratitude at the gift of being alive, conscious—lies on the other side of crushing, crushing boredom. Pay close attention to the most tedious thing you can find (Tax Returns, Televised Golf) and, in waves, a boredom like you’ve never known will wash over you and just about kill you. But ride these waves out and it will feel like finally getting a drink of water after many days in the desert.”
– David Foster Wallace, quoted in Silence by Erling Kagge.
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“Before I could finish my words of caution, Tom [Cruise] grabbed Ken’s shoulder in one hand and mine in the other, and practically shouted in our faces: “DO YOU KNOW WHAT WE GET TO DO TODAY?!!! Ken yelled back without hesitation: WE GET TO MAKE… A… MOVIE!” I couldn’t help but grin. Their childlike joy was unalloyed and infectious.”
– Ed Zwick, Hits, Flops, and Other Illusions
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By deciding on our own work, I believe we circumvent boredom.
If I am bored when writing, it means I am not writing what I want to write but what I think I should be writing.
Because I have the freedom and means to write and publish every day I remind myself to share gratitude for the opportunity.
There are other realities I could be forced to live which do not include writing.
Not being free to express myself is the route of boredom.
By writing, I am never excluded from the conversation.
I can blurt out whatever comes to mind. Make up a new game to play. Every day I enter this space of childish things.
I can come back later as a serious adult and correct some my mistakes. But the spirit of the kindergarten remains.
Excitement and joy
Know what I get to do today?!!! I get to make a blog!
And do you know what I get to do tomorrow?!!! I get to make a blog!
And the day after?!!!… you get my drift.
I am grateful for this privileged position.
For writing, my mantra will be: less force, more joy.
Would you like to come along for the ride? It’s more fun together…
Conversations With Quotations 