In Praise of Boredom

A quick look at the news tells me how much is happening everywhere else.   Just look at these headlines.

"Fresh violence rocks Kashmir"  Imagine the thrill of idealistically battling for human freedom against the Indian tyrants.  No,  make that the Pakistani tyrants.  No, that would be the Indian tyrants.  Wait a minute ... which tyrants are the good guys in this skirmish?

"Typhoon hits south China"  Wow!  Picture battling a typhoon, testing one's mettle against the ravages of Mother Nature, fending off torrent after torrent of pounding water, fighting just to keep one's footing and not be washed away into the gaping sea.  Oh the suspense is pure agony.

"North China Flood Death Toll Reaches 38"  Feel the thrill of negotiating the flooded landscape, keeping afloat, scavenging for food, battling pillagers, rescuing stranded villagers, praying just to survive one more day.  The excitement is almost too much.

"Rain delays US Open"  Imagine battling the worst "persistent drizzle" Mother Nature can send your way, thrown into the uncertain company of fellow celebrities, bravely escaping the risk of playing a slippery court ... forced against your very will to wait for the rain to stop, armed with nothing more than a tennis racket.  Now, that's adventure!

"Cruise Ship Struck by Virus"  Imagine being one of the valiant 300 germ-fighters to heroically battle acute gastroenteritis while crossing the unforgiving ocean in nothing more than a mere 70,000 ton cruise ship.   The only viruses I battle have names like "Klez" and "SoBig" and "Blaster".

The valiant knights of open-sea food poisoning faced combat in Denmark, England, Ireland, Iceland and New York.  Sa-ay... New York is close to me.  But I'm still stuck battling computer viruses at my keyboard in Chesterville.  Far from where all the exciting headlines happen.   Like in Iraq.

Iraqis have been able to battle a real tyrant for decades.   They have had the chance to evade torture chambers and persecution.   They have been given the chance to survive famine and disease.

Then came that once-in-a-lifetime moment of glory, when they rose to the occasion to dodge bombs and missiles sent by invading liberators.

After a few more years of combat against hunger and disease, tyranny and violence, they rose to that once-in-a-lifetime chance again.

Alas, all good things must come to an end.  Liberation, even with a missing tyrant snickering somewhere on the loose, means the end of torture, famine and persecution.   It means peace.

Not all Iraqis are taking peace lying down.  Some are even willing to resort to violence to protest against peace.  So once again, Iraqis have the golden opportunity to valiantly dodge bombs and bravely evade persecution.

Meanwhile, Little Lady woke up in the middle of the night.  She did not want to go back to sleep in her room because "there are monsters and doctors."   Of course, the only monster she knows is Cookie Monster.   On the other hand, doctors can really be scary.  Especially when they give you needles.  Particularly when you are just two years old.

Hmm.   Maybe boredom isn't so bad, after all.  Call me an underachiever, but somehow I get the feeling I stand a better chance against "monsters and doctors" than I do against the evil tyrants, typhoons, bombs and even life-threatening tennis-match delays.

Did you ever hear that old Chinese curse:  "May you live in interesting times"?   Well let me wish you this:  "May boredom fill your days."

The author is David Leonhardt, The Happy Guy. Read more columns like this in his weekly Happy Guy column or read more personal growth articles. Visit his website: Finding Happiness and Self-actualization.