Bored?

As a kid, when you want to do something, or get something, you're often tempted to pretend to be bored in order for some adult to let you do it, or get it. One particularly uneventful summer day, a relative heard one of my cousins and I playing the 'I'm bored' game. Hearing our complaints, he scoffed and said, "Boredom is a sign of a weak mind."

It may have hurt my feelings at the time, but it's very true. You never have to be bored. The world is full things to learn or do. There's always some way to keep yourself occupied, no matter what your circumstance.

Some things will help you pass the time by entertaining you. Other things may not be as entertaining, but benefit you in some other way. The best, though, are those that entertain and educate you at the same time.

Boredom only exists if you choose not to do something to allay it. There are just too many options. You really have to want to be bored.

The Law

I'm not sure if I've ever posted this on my blog, but it's a very good and quick read. Bastiat makes some great points, and, 170+ years later, his The Law holds up pretty well. You can read it online here.

Someone was asking about a quick, first-read to understand why government should be limited. This little book was the first that came to mind. There are a lot of other books, though, that entertained me, as well.

I particularly liked Rose Wilder Lane's Give Me Liberty. You can read it here. She's the daughter of Laura Ingalls Wilder of Little House on the Prairie fame. I like that the daughter of Laura Ingalls was a communist in Russia around the time of the Bolshevik Revolution, a good distance from her Mom's Little House. Her story is pretty interesting.

Not Derivative

You don't always have to use tools to solve problems. Your brain is often capable of working out the answer through the process of elimination. Moving through the variables, you can quickly ascertain which ones affect your outcome.

If the proportion isn't moving you, it's integrally important to realize you probably don't need to be derivative.

Lukewarm

Why does outside feel like used bathwater? It never got cold enough to get rid of last summer, it seems. Grass will need to be cut again, soon.

We needed a few more clear days and nights for temperature to change dramatically. All the clouds have been keeping in the heat. Maybe the Sun will appear, soon.

Passion

I like when people are passionate about something. Even if I'm not passionate about what they are, or if what they're on fire for is something I completely disagree with, I feel like their passion means they have hope. Being driven to passion indicates there's a desire to be linked with some truth.

I dislike when people are passionate with a manipulative pretense. You'll hear someone excitedly talking about a subject to one person, then completely deny any interest in the subject when speaking with someone else. They'll even go as far as claiming to be interested in something completely different when it appears that opinion will make them look better. It's impossible for me to respect someone like that.

You see that a lot in politicians and in 'leadership'. They switch sides and speak with just as much simulated emotion about their new 'passion' as they did the old one. There's never a good explanation for the change. It's just like flipping a switch. To me, that's exactly the same as having no passions at all, maybe even worse.

Innovators tend to be passionate. People who love you the most are passionate. Passion keeps you healthy and colors your face. The world needs more real, thoughtful passion.

Happy VD

Thanks to my sweet and slightly disturbing girlfriend, I'm 3 hearts richer, tonight. One of them lights up, giving the impression it's still beating. One looks freshly ripped from a chest. The third is filled with gourmet beef jerky. I'm a lucky man.

Fragile

It sucks being reminded of the fragility of life. It's beyond my ability to understand why bad things happen to good people. We'll understand it all by and by.