Only you can define boring
Don't waste any more time on what other people are doing or what they think about what you do
.
"Kate, I think I'm boring."
I'm sitting outside on a mild day enjoying a meal with my mother.
We're at one of our favorite places. The staff doesn’t rush us out the door (it helps that we define dinner as 3:00 PM.)
While I munch on a particularly good basket of french fries (not all are created equal), I listen to her talk about her friends' activities compared to her own.
They're traveling through Europe, taking cooking classes, knitting what seems to me like an endless number of sweaters, and occasionally visiting family.
She, on the other hand, puts a lot of time into building her company, writing, seeing theatre, going for walks, and spending a good bit of time with her family.
After taking a long sip from my water glass, I responded, "I think you're asking the wrong question. I think the question you should ask is are you bored?"
She made a face that combined surprise and contemplation, then said, "No. I'm actually really content."
"Ok, then I wouldn't waste any more time on what other people are doing or what they think about what you do."
I don't know if she's quite abandoned the original line of inquiry, but I stand by the suggestion.
I know I'm tremendously boring by what I perceive to be popular ways to spend time (especially by social media standards).
But frankly, I don't care.
I've never put much stock in the word cool; it's a label typically applied to you by other people based on an ever-changing set of criteria, and I'd rather define myself by my own standards.
I can also say I'm rarely bored, barring time I set aside to let my mind rest and wander (a little boredom now and then is actually a good thing).
As you look at the world through the lens of Instagram, remember that you can choose how you spend your time.
Focus on doing what you find challenging, fulfilling, entertaining, and meaningful.
Because being boring isn’t a problem, being fundamentally bored is.
.