The French Call It "Ennui"

The French Call It “Ennui”

The translation of the French word “ennui,” according to Dictionary.com is “a feeling of utter weariness and discontent resulting from satiety or lack of interest; boredom…” Can you remember the last time you were bored according to that definition? One would think that in today’s world, with hundreds of 24-hour television channels, on-demand video, and video games literally available in our pockets that boredom would be a thing of the past.  There are vast numbers of quick and easy diversions available to us at almost any time in almost any place.

You’d think that these modern marvels would be killers of boredom–but when you’ve scrolled all the way to the end of the internet, what’s next? Start over? Get up and clean house? Why don’t we think of things we can do that don’t require technology? Boredom may not be the adversary we’ve all been led to believe it is.

Fear of boredom may indicate a fear of oneself. Even Superman had to retreat to his Fortress of Solitude once in a while! If you had time without any electronic distractions, what do you think your mind would finally formulate? You don’t have to be a monk to appreciate the freedom you can feel when you escape from all of life’s digital input.

Take the times of ennui and come up with something to do that occupies or refreshes your mind and soul:  take a twenty-minute walk, play a game of solitaire–with actual playing cards–start writing a weekly journal, learn how to bake bread; anything that can get those stalled brain wheels turning again without turning to a screen. Times of boredom just might turn out to be the times you find your creative spark or learn a better way to take care of yourself!