I’ve heard people say that boredom is good for us, and that we need more of it in our lives.
They rightly observe how addicted we are to our smartphones, and how rarely we allow ourselves to feel bored without reaching for instant relief. The problem, they suggest, is in our burning desire to relieve boredom.
But I can’t get myself to see our hatred of dullness as a problem. To me, the desire to be interested in something is a sign of health—a sign that the spark of life still exists inside us.
In my eyes, the problem is trying to satisfy ourselves only with mental junk food and shallow alternatives to the real thing. Instead of running away from our restless feelings and toward people, projects, or adventures, we’re settling for cheap hits of dopamine that pacify our minds instead of truly engaging them….