Boredom is good!
Two things have brought about this post.
Thing the first: last night I was talking to my sister about how Niece #1 loves to make up songs in the car. As two girls who grew up making up A LOT of songs, we are incredibly proud of this fact, especially since most of the people we know who have little kids complain about how their kids can't ride in a car for ten minutes without getting bored and demanding to watch a DVD.
Thing the second: I was just on BarnesandNoble.com and I started listening to this interview with Meg Cabot where she talks about how being bored a lot as a kid and having to entertain herself was a major factor in her success.
Which is absolutely crazy because last night I said the following to my sister:
"I really think that if I hadn't had to spend hours painting fence and driving tractors and doing the kinds of things where I had to keep myself entertained I wouldn't be a writer today."
Seriously, folks. We didn't have iPods or portable DVD players. I didn't carry a cell phone with me everywhere I went, talking to or texting my friends in every spare second.
I had to spend hours upon hours by myself. And you know who was responsible for keeping me entertained during that time? I was.
For my day job I used to spend a lot of time walking across the campus of a major university, and I swear EVERY SINGLE student I would meet on my walk from Waters Hall to the Student Union would be either listening to an iPod or talking on a cell phone.
Every.
Single.
One.
Which makes me wonder when these people are ever alone with their own thoughts?
When are they ever responsible for their own entertainment?
I'm not saying that a person who has an iPod and a portable DVD player and whatever the new video game software is can't grow up to be the most awesomely creative person ever. But I do think creativity is like anything else--it's better when you stretch it and use it and keep it in shape.
So go paint some fence this winter break, guys.
It never hurt anyone.
-Ally
Thing the first: last night I was talking to my sister about how Niece #1 loves to make up songs in the car. As two girls who grew up making up A LOT of songs, we are incredibly proud of this fact, especially since most of the people we know who have little kids complain about how their kids can't ride in a car for ten minutes without getting bored and demanding to watch a DVD.
Thing the second: I was just on BarnesandNoble.com and I started listening to this interview with Meg Cabot where she talks about how being bored a lot as a kid and having to entertain herself was a major factor in her success.
Which is absolutely crazy because last night I said the following to my sister:
"I really think that if I hadn't had to spend hours painting fence and driving tractors and doing the kinds of things where I had to keep myself entertained I wouldn't be a writer today."
Seriously, folks. We didn't have iPods or portable DVD players. I didn't carry a cell phone with me everywhere I went, talking to or texting my friends in every spare second.
I had to spend hours upon hours by myself. And you know who was responsible for keeping me entertained during that time? I was.
For my day job I used to spend a lot of time walking across the campus of a major university, and I swear EVERY SINGLE student I would meet on my walk from Waters Hall to the Student Union would be either listening to an iPod or talking on a cell phone.
Every.
Single.
One.
Which makes me wonder when these people are ever alone with their own thoughts?
When are they ever responsible for their own entertainment?
I'm not saying that a person who has an iPod and a portable DVD player and whatever the new video game software is can't grow up to be the most awesomely creative person ever. But I do think creativity is like anything else--it's better when you stretch it and use it and keep it in shape.
So go paint some fence this winter break, guys.
It never hurt anyone.
-Ally
posted by Ally Carter at Saturday, December 29, 2007
28 Comments:
Ally I wish You were boared more when you where little.
www.studentsoftheworld.info
/sites/misc/gallagher.php
Wow.
That Was Deep.
:)
Never Thought About Boredom That Way.
I Think I Like It.
:)
this is an awesum post! i was actually just thinkn bout boardom the othr day, sumtimes, i just like to go and sit and think and do nothn, well, thn again, wen i do that random thinkn, i make up stories in my head, so its not nothn.....lol, rly, creativity is huge for evry1 and evrythn, sumtimes, we all just need to sit around and think, we dont constantly need technology in evry second of our lives = )
<3 celia
Amen Ally! Painting fence is the ultimate alone with your thoughts activity!
i definitely agree with you on the boredom thing. but with school starting again boredom shouldn't be around too much.
I. Don't. Want. To. Go. Back. To. School. between having to alter my schedule back to waking up at five twenty every morning, not getting enough sleep, the coming homework, nothing to look foreward to, leaving my family to go back to new jersey (ew. i'm in georgia right now), and devil teachers that were probably not affected by christmas cheer whatsoever,i DO NOT WANT BREAK TO END!
do you have any advice for me, and i'm sure many others out there, who have absolutely no motivation to go back to school??
Ok, finally I get to post this. I had to go volunteer at the library for like 4 hours. And I didn’t have time to finish this, so I saved it in ms word because I had like 3 paragraphs written. :P
omg I agree with you about 350%. If not more.
It makes me sad to see all the kids who are over-stimulated, who play video games and watch tv all the time. It's not good for them. at all. I may be sort of young and all, but I'm not like people that are like that. I don't own a cell phone. I own an iPod, but I only listen at home, while writing (it is inspiring.)
I'm not saying I'm so great while everyone else is terrible. I watch tv. I stay on computers for extensive periods of time. But I think that I may be a little better because I don't do stuff like facebook or myspace or mindless YouTube all day. I edit Wikipedia (I'm a geek like that. :P), which actually makes you think. I comment of authors' blogs (because I'm an obsessive fan like that), and write my own stories and poems.
Overall, I think I'm on way too much (so do my parents...). But It's not like I'm harming myself. I hope. Maybe I’m wrong. I’m wrong about a lot of things.
I'm just not like that. I hope. I can't stand people like that...they are the ones in the basic classes at school. The ones who will grow up to be the general population of the world. The ones who's genes won't help the human race all that much.
I want to be different. I want to be better. I want to do something with my life. I don’t want to be like that. Of all the things that could happen to me, I think that would be the worst. I’d rather die. I’m not kidding.
wow. sorry for the megapost. I'll try to cut it down next time. :P
~ Allie-wa
Yeah that's true... I mean I listen to my iPod a lot but it helps me think and write. I don't talk on my cell phone unless I need to. But you're totally right
RE: to stephanie:
I do not by any means want to go back to school but listen here: you'll see your friends again every day and do you have a crush? you'll see him too!!! wish i could think of more...
UMMM. YEAH. ALLY. TOTALLY. AGREE. WITH. YOU.
I couldn't have put it better myself!!!
THESE ARE THE THINGS I TALK ABOUT TO MY PARENTS ALLLLL THE TIME--all the other kids in my school are alwyas texting and doing stupid stuff.
I LOVE BEING BY MYSELF--especially since i'm an only child--AND I LIKE HAVING FUN WITH MYSELF....
But i don't edit wikipedia...
Ally i agree with you but i am one of those kids you are talking about. i litsen to my ipod 24-7, i get texts from my boyfriend 24-7 and if i dont reply he will call, he knows my whole sceduale so he knows when to not but he still does. i didnt ever think of boredom bc i am never really bored i wish i was, i want to b able to read more. i want 2 read more so much that i got caught in Language Arts reading one of ur books instead of a book that is mandatory to read but yet i have already read. how do i get my scheduale more free. boredom is good but i need to be bored some time plezzz help me!!!!!
People who are always on their iPod and texting get used to that kind of thing. Then one day, while their doing it, they realise that they are bored. You get used to what you do a lot. So you need to mix up your schedule and your life to keep an active and healthy mind.
Re to nor: try, um...NOT doing things. Really, what do you do all day? Friends/sports/phone/email/other I guess. Cut back on friend time. Being alone isn't as bad as it sounds. But if you do sports or play an instrument, that's not bad. Keep doing that. It's good.
Try turning your cell phone off. Tell your bf you just don't want to talk. It's harder than it sounds, I know, but try it.
RE to Alexandra (from Florida): Try it sometime. Wikipedia is actually fun. sometimes.
ok so besides the fact that i love your writing styles; i agree with what your saying because i am guilty; i live, breath ,and eat music so i basically go everywhere with my ipod and i think that alot of people, including me, need to learn how to live with out technology for at least a second.
question: still i'm still new to this thing - you are making a GG3? when is it due to be published?
oops. i just did some looking around and realized you can't say;; so sorry [;
maybe if you get bored you can finnish GG3. That would be great.
Wow, all of the college students have I-pods and cell phones? That is crazy. I mean I have an I-pod, but I don't listen to it 24/7. I like to find other stuff to do. I guess that technology is just becoming entertainment.
No need to fear, I still get bored often. I mean its hard sitting in a plane every friday and Monday on my way to and from Mexico with my Dad. You can't use any electronices (doesn't really matter because none that I have that are portable) That is exactly how I got into reading.
Then, in my spare time at home, on my ranch, I actually have to paint fences! Not as fun as it sounds..... Atleast, I get paid for it. Its actually gets kinda fun if you get someone to paint with you and then you "accidently" flick paint at them.
I don't have a cell phone, ipod, portable DVD, or anything like that. I rely on this old computer that rarely can ever get on the internet and when it does, it takes hours to load.
For all those who rely on electronics, try getting a pet. My 4 dogs, 6 sheep, 3 horses, 6 gerbils, and 2 snakes are great ways to busy myself with.
I don't rely on electronics. All I have is a computer. I read in my spare time. I live on a ranch and many times the animals ruin the fences so I have to paint the new ones, so I get the idea od going to paint a fence. It really does occupy your time. It helps though if you have a friend that you can "accidently" spill paint on.
Animals also help occupy your time. Mainly, since you have to clean, feed, bathe, and take care of them. I promise that animals will help get you away from your boredom and electronics. (Take it from someone who has never gone a day without petting a dog, riding a horse, or milking a cow)
Din't mean to double... I thought I deleted that first one....
I do agree about the boredom thing. I grew up on a farm when I was little, we had to move so I sadly was never old enough to do the whole paint the fence thing, but I totally understand about having to entertain yourself. I now live in a town with a major university by it, and IT IS VERY annoying with all the college kids not paying attention to a car that almost hit them because they were walking across the street listening to their ipod, or when you go into a restraunt and sit near a table of about eight college kids who are all on their cellphones. (no joke that actually did happen to me and my parents, a bit pethetic really)
True, I spend long periods on the computer chatting with my friends or reading some of my favorite authors websites but if you were to make me go without tv, IM, ipod, computer, or cellphone, etc. I cold easily manage. and like many of you have already said I usually only listen to music when I'm writting because it helps me get in the 'mood'.
Sadly most of my friends are obsessed with texting and all that, and wouldn't be able to entertain themselves to save their life. no joke. but then again none of them would think twice about writting. some of them would actually laugh if they knew I wrote stories, but that doesn't really matter to me.
one more thing Ally didn't mention is when your alone yes, it helps to stretch and shape your creativity but it can also help you with your self-confidence so your not co-dependant on anyone.
It feels good to think and make decisions on your own :)
sorry that was a lot of typing but thanx for reading all of it
_Kat
i got this e-mail from my friend and thought it was funny!
The following short quiz consists of four questions and will test whether you are qualified to be a professional. Scroll down for each answer. The questions are NOT that difficult. But don't scroll down UNTIL you have answered the question. Remember all questions are RELEVANT.
1. How do you put a giraffe in the refrigerator?
The correct answer is: Open the refrigerator door, put in the giraffe, and close the door. This question tests whether you tend to do simple things in an overly complicated way.
2. How do you put an elephant into a refrigerator?
Did you say, open the door, put in the elephant, and shut the door?
Wrong answer.
Correct answer: Open the refrigerator, take out the giraffe, put in the elephant and close the door. This tests your ability to think through the repercussions of your previous actions.
3. The Lion King is hosting an animal conference. All the animals attend . . . except one. Which animal does not attend?
Correct answer: The elephant. The elephant is in the refrigerator. You just put him in there. This tests your memory.
Okay, even if you did not answer the first three questions correctly, you still have one more chance to show your true abilities.
4. There is a river you must cross, but it is used by crocodiles, and you do not have a boat. How do you manage it?
Correct answer: You jump into the river and swim across. Have you not been listening? All the crocodiles are attending the Animal Meeting with the Lion King. This tests whether you learn quickly from your mistakes.
According to Anderson Consulting Worldwide, around 90% of the professionals they tested got all questions wrong, but many preschoolers got several correct answers. Anderson Consulting says this conclusively disproves the theory that most professionals have the brains of a four year old.
i'll have to agree with u on the bordon thing. but i do tend to use my i-pod alot. like on the bus(who can realy talk at 6:30 in the morning anyway?) and riding in my moms car. b/c music is a big part of me and gets me in a creative mood. but i'm no writer(even though my parents say otherwise.)
i guss i'm trying to say that wile too much of a good thing is bad that with the wright amount great things can hapen!!!
And dont forget to keep us posted about GG3!!!! I'm dieing to know whats its about an when it will be released. But dont rush or anything it should be the best you can make it!!!
-Kristen from NC
I totally agree with you, but why post this thought on the internet, where there is no creative-mind-thinking either.
I disagree. I think there is creativity on the internet. In some places. Been to fanlib.com?
It depends on where you are.
Sorry to comment on an old post. :)
~Allie-wa
Hey ally! i have a comment. (well, obviously.) Even though i do have both an ipod and a cell phone, i really enjoy just sitting alone sometimes, either reading a book or just simply thinking. so even though i have both, i still DO just sit around and think a LOT of the time. =)
my friend read this and just said "I don't like to be alone with my thoughts, they speak many different languages and I don't understand them!" lol
by the way I totally agree with you.
yes it did...what about Tom Sawyer?
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