It's OK to be bored!

Yesterday was such a different day from the past month. I puttered all afternoon, but I also got some sewing done. OK, I mostly sewed and didn't putter much. I'm good as long as no one can see the mess on the screen. The camera faces a wall, so there is plenty of room in front of it to stash the mess! 

With everything going on, I haven't been reading much lately. However, I recently received notifications about two ebooks that I had let lapse without finishing. I accepted both—more on that in a minute. I also got a notification about an audiobook I'd waited eons for and accepted it. It has one week left. 

So, while I sewed, I listened to the audiobook. I'm not sure who recommended the book, but it's probably not one I would have chosen. Now that I'm into it, it's good. It keeps me entertained while I work. Oh my - did I just say that? I've got a story about that. 

Then, in the evening, I returned to one of the ebooks. I think I found this one in the Globe and Mail book review. I just checked my list, and YES, that's where I got it. Her reviews are usually right up my alley, but she raved about this one, and it's a challenge to read, so I let it lapse before. It has sci-fi elements, and while I'm OK with that, this one is way off base. I will NOT be recommending this one to anyone. 

It also lacks the thriller aspect I like—it's just hi-tech silliness! But I'm almost done—thank goodness for that! If I had to pinpoint exactly why I don't like it - it has a plot, but it seems all over the place. There doesn't seem to be any meat in the book, and the author just rambles on about random things and then goes back to the plot. There is very little character development, so they may as well be cardboard figures. I have less than 50 pages to go, and the ending (according to another review I read) is good, so I will get to the end. This Canadian author will NOT go on my "to read" list. The book is called Glass Houses by Madeline Ashby. 

And now about the other story. I primarily work alone in the house and don't need anything to entertain me. I don't need music when I walk; I don't need white noise in the house. I'm pretty good at entertaining myself with my thoughts. I also love the solitude! There was a story on the Editorial page of The Globe and Mail yesterday entitled: "Just (don't) do it: The power of being bored." 

Here's a quote: "But these things never really "cure" boredom. Too often, they merely fill empty hours with the empty calories of dopamine-igniting distractions." And it goes on to say that we NEED to be bored. I couldn't agree more. We seem consumed with filling our time with entertainment. Do we need to read 1000 books a year, be entertained 100% of the time, attempt to do everything, and then wonder why our society is so stressed? Why are young people (and older people as well) suffering from more mental health issues? 

Have we ever thought that maybe our brains are overstimulated? Our brains never have a chance to shut down and do nothing. In essence - be bored! The author also mentions that fear of boredom may also be building loneliness. They refer to how social media is taking over our lives; without interaction, we are lonely. 

I may be alone frequently, but I will NEVER be lonely. I have too much going on in my brain that I don't have time to be lonely. So the next time you don't know what to do with yourself, why not sit down and look out the window. Watch the traffic, birds, and people, AND be BORED. You will be uncomfortable and want it to end, but this is quiet time. Your brain needs that! Encourage your kids and grandchildren to get bored! It's good for them!

That's why I love my gazebo in the summer. I could sit out without devices or books and just listen and watch. And then I'd nap! We need more daydreaming! 

But napping in the gazebo is not allowed today. We have been experiencing a cold snap for two days, and it's pretty chilly outside. 

As you saw yesterday, the cutting table for Spice Market was a huge mess. There are many little blocks to make, and I am cutting as I need the pieces. 

I also laid all the blocks on the design wall. 

The blocks so far for Spice Market

Then I cut the first pieces and went to sew. OH - something is missing here. 

What's missing?

There was no foot pedal, although I usually embroider with the foot pedal attached in case I need it. Alas, I had not done that. So, I went to find the foot pedal. Because I am trying to put things back where they belonged, the foot pedal was sitting right where it was supposed to be. 

I cut and sewed, cut and sewed (and pressed) throughout the afternoon. Wait—I got some critical paperwork out of the house in the morning. That needed to be a priority, but I have more to do today. I think I can see the light at the end of the tunnel for that, but as soon as I finish something, more is due. 

Cutting the pieces

At the end of the day, I put up the blocks that I had completed, the three columns on the left. While it doesn't seem like a lot to accomplish in a day, I only sewed for a couple of hours in the afternoon. I'm happy with my progress, and I have 30 more small blocks like those on the extreme left to finish, and I really want to finish them today. 

My blocks for Spice Market

I'm still behind, but I've made good progress, and that's all I care about! It's definitely a puzzle quilt. I'm not worried about where those blocks will fit into the final quilt colorwise—if the colors go together, the blocks will go together. I'm using the colors equally, so they will be spread throughout the quilt equally. 

I also entered my FitBit data into the tracker—that's good! Now, I realize I'm slightly ahead of schedule on my walk around the US. 

Progress on my walk around the US

So that is good news. Now I need to enter the date regularly, and everything will be good. 

I have two Zooms this morning, one where I'm an observer and one where I'm the facilitator. I have a few more pictures to load into the presentation, and everything will be good. I also hope to get a quilt quilted today, so it will be busy. But do I need any mental stimulation to do that? I don't, but I want to finish this audiobook, and it'll be the first one I've listened to in a LONG time, so I'm allowed a little bit of leeway! 

Another aspect of boredom that we are losing is patience. If you are willing to be bored, you have learned the art of patience. If you need constant entertainment, your patience level is reduced. You want everything, and you want it now. There is something to be said for being bored. 

So, I'm trying to incorporate those squats into my daily routine. I know - instead of being bored while I wait for my lunch to heat up, I'm doing squats in the kitchen! Poor Murphy - she does NOT like when I try to do anything like that. She's moaning and groaning and trying to get in the way. I don't know what it is about her. But I can easily manage the squats in groups of ten without the aid of the counter. The first couple, my knees were crunchy, but as I continued, they loosened up and I was golden! 

Plus, it's increasing my mobility on the stairs (always being cautious), but that is fantastic news. I refuse to get old before my time! 

You now have two jobs: doing squats (or standing up/sitting down) or tidying your house. Responsible adults need to be aware of these responsibilities. 

And here's a quote that says it all. 

I forgot to continue posting the 50 Ways to Keep a Quilter Happy While on Vacation series. So here's another link. These are numbers 41, 40, 39, and 38. 

Well, I'm off to freeze my buns (but I might wear my wind pants), and then I've got a chock-a-block day. But don't worry - I have loads of downtime between what needs to be done! Boredom? Bring it on!!!!! And I let myself be bored! I don't find fillers like games or social media!

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!