“I’m bored,” said they said from more than 3,000 miles away.
The phone had just rung. A couple I knew was on vacation in Scotland, so I wasn’t expecting a call from them, as those international calls were expensive. Yet, call they did because it was a Sunday and in the late 1990s most things in the Scottish town they were in were closed, and they were somehow bored. How was this even possible?
Look, I get it. No wait, actually I really don’t.
Okay, so most shops were closed but there were certainly other things to do. Why not go for a nice long walk and finish it with a drink and meal at a pub? Or go for a drive and enjoy the views? Or read a book? Or just sit and BE?
No matter what, they were in Scotland, which is a stunningly gorgeous country. How can one be bored there?
Bigger picture, what does it mean if someone is bored while on vacation, regardless of where it is? I feel like there are always places to explore, new foods to try, books to read, or even naps to take. Am I wrong?
What about you? Do you ever get bored on vacation? If so, what’s your solution?
I don’t jive with the word ‘bored’. I believe it’s an invented concept used by children (who’ve overheard their parents) to describe tasks they don’t want to do or have difficulty doing. It’s a term used by the unimaginative or in rare cases by people trapped in constrained circumstances. There are usually games to play, things to draw, books/magazines to read, places to walk, movement to make, and people to talk with. And, there is always the ability for inward contemplation and thought. Naps are good too!