Ustwo

I think I've hit that point in my life where suddenly I look around and think....damn I'm bored.

I don't think youngsters will understand this type of boredom, as while not all my goals have been met, all of the short term/easy to define ones have been. I used to be content to work on class work, and hit the next party, or any other diversion, but that was because everything was moving forward and entertainment was to blow of steam or relax.

Now I have a great job, which allows both freedom from the cooperate world and good pay. I enjoy it, it gives me a level of instant prestige, and I am good at it.

I have a great wife. She's intelligent, good looking and loves me completely. Shes open to new things and is not jealous or controlling in the least.

I have a great kid. Its almost embarrassing how often people come up to tell us how cute he is. My usual joke is I'm still trying to find the father.

I have a sex life which would be hard pressed to be better, and would be the envy of most married men.

The problem is I'm just bored in general. I'm not challenged. I have nothing left to really prove to anyone or myself. I think this is the point where people turn to drinking, model trains, religion, or conspicuous consumption. Well I don't like hangovers, trains never did it for me, I've been an atheist since I was eight, and buying new toys doesn't excite me that much in the end.

Part of why I post on TFP is because I'm bored, I've been playing MMPOG's, but in the end they are boring too (some sooner than others) and feel like a waste of time.

So my question or perhaps just discussion would be what do you do to keep from being bored, to find a passion worth devoting your life to. Me perhaps I'm just in a funk, but I do need something new to do

__________________
Agents of the enemies who hold office in our own government, who attempt to eliminate our "freedoms" and our "right to know" are posting among us, I fear.....on this very forum. - host

Obama - Know a Man by the friends he keeps.

ngdawg

Pack a camera, even if it's one of those one-use deals, a couple of bottles of water and some fastfood money and take a get lost drive. Head out early. No plan, no maps, no companion.
Look at things. That gnarly tree...the abandoned barn, a rusty bike. Take pictures. Stop the car, get out, breathe. Get back in, drive some more. Chat up the old man at the farm stand you come across or a fisherman at a creek while you're taking pictures. You'll probably come across some small shop. Get something needless.
The beauty of a get lost drive is that you never know what you'll come across, that you have all day and that for a few hours at least, you weren't sitting at a computer talking about how bored you are. It's you and your thoughts and whatever environment you happen into.

__________________
Don't blame me. I didn't vote for either of'em.

abaya

Hey man, at least you're honest about it. I think a lot of people who get bored like that end up with self-destructive behaviors, and you're definitely not doing that.

Maybe you need to take a big ol' trip. Go somewhere totally new that scares you... a place that will challenge you and the way you think about the world. Take your wife and explore a new city or country together, or go alone and meet new people, and let them challenge you. I guess that's kinda what ng is saying, too. Get out of your comfort ditch, basically.

But travel is always my answer. It cures just about anything for me. May not be the same as you, but what's the harm in trying it? You're bored, right?

__________________
And think not you can direct the course of Love;
for Love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course.
--Khalil Gibran

filtherton

You should totally do volunteer work. I'm serious.

Mephisto2

You're an intelligent guy. You've shown that with your contributions and engagement on this board the past three years or so. Whilst our politics may differ (but not as much as you may think...), I have always held you in the highest respect. What you need is something to occupy your mind.

I like filtherton's suggestion. There is little more rewarding in life than helping others. I'm in the US this week and today I sat in my rental car for an extra 25 minutes listening to a NPR radio show on Habitat for Humanity, the US based charity that has built over 100,000 homes and housed over 500,000 people (based on 2003 figures!). It was refreshing to hear them describe their good work, and whilst many of their volunteers are religiously motivated, I found myself thinking that this is a charity I would like to work for; and I'm not religious at all.

I also find that stimulating the brain is a great way to pass time in a rewarding way. I read. Personally, I have a love of non-fiction; mostly history and science.

I therefore recommend you read. Find something you're interested in, and become an arm-chair expert. Volunteer. If you are as successful as you say, then you should also be able to spare some time to help those who are less well off. I know that this is the case with me, and I myself have been looking for something to do, some value I can bring, someway to volunteer.

And finally, think. Question yourself and your beliefs. As a great man once said, a life unexamined is not worth living.


Mr Mephisto

Nisses

"I'm not challenged"
Your whole problem. General goals and problems that come to mind for everybody, have been met.

So you have to find your own interest and passion to devote time to.

for ngdawg it's a sense of spectator who doesn't know what's coming, who enjoys the images themselves.

For filtherthon it's the simple joy of helping others.

For Mr. Mephisto it's brainwork.

So you try something too... Just something you are kind of interested in.

as for my suggestion:
How about working around your house with domotica (electronics, planning, thinking, and tinkering) but not just buying pre-made kits, actually looking at requirements, buying the items and soldering/fixing them into place yourself.

__________________
Moderation should be moderately moderated.

pig

what kind of music / art do you enjoy? creation is a pretty good way to challenge yourself, and i don't think its the sort of thing you can every really "master."

volunteer work would be pretty cool (and free advertising )

my guess is that, of course, only you can answer this question - but you've got have a couple of things you've thought about and said "that would be cool as all get out to do / be / try..." well, you don't have to worry about failure because you're trying something new to see if you like it. just experiment and see what sticks.

__________________
You don't love me, you just love my piggy style

fresnelly

Some sort of Martial Art?

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Building an artificial intelligence that appreciates Mozart is easy. Building an A.I. that appreciates a theme restaurant is the real challenge - Kit Roebuck - Nine Planets Without Intelligent Life

Charlatan

There's always knitting...

Seriously... boredom hasn't been a problem for me because my family and my job take up most of my time. But now I find myself in a weird space...

For the next 4 to 10 months I am (for all intents and purposes) single again. I have been working like a demon during the week and can see how easy it could be to become bored on the weekends.

Years ago a teacher once told me that being bored is ultimately a failure in imagination. He argued that given what this world has to offer boredom should never be an option. To that end, I taking great pains to ensure that I do not sit on my ass and get bored.

I have made a few friends here who are in the same predicament as I and we are going to explore every inch of this island if it kills us. We are going to eat all varied types of food there are to eat (that could take a lifetime here... you have no idea). We are going to learn to speak Singlish. Most important we are not going to open ourselves to boredom.

__________________
"My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars."
- Old Man Luedecke

Jinn

My ten seconds of thought:

Get your pilots license
Get your skydive instruction license
Learn to snowboard
Buy a cheapo car and turn it into a fun little racecar
Go back and get another degree

You might've accomplished all of your professional goals, but have you thought about the goals you might have to make yourself a more rounded person?

__________________
"I'm typing on a computer of science, which is being sent by science wires to a little science server where you can access it. I'm not typing on a computer of philosophy or religion or whatever other thing you think can be used to understand the universe because they're a poor substitute in the role of understanding the universe which exists independent from ourselves." - Willravel

Ustwo

Some good suggestions, I'm currently leaning to the health/fitness side of things, as its been a while since I was in 'great' shape.


Hehe this amused me but not because it was silly but because of what is often the result. Small planes are called "Doctor Killers" for a good reason. When you read of the next small plane crash, odds are the pilot was a doctor of some kind. Both of my parents are private pilots and I spent far to much time growing up in the back of a small plane. I took lessons while I was in college and the only thing about it that interested me was doing zero G dives . Sky diving, snowboarding, drag racing are all other 'get the adrenaline' going things, of which snow boarding may be interesting but they don't call people from Illinois 'flatlanders' without cause. Another degree, sure there are a few things that would be of interest but now is not the time to be getting a PhD, which is the level that would interest me.

I think I'm going to try the exercise thing along with some home improvement. There are a number of projects that need to be done.

__________________
Agents of the enemies who hold office in our own government, who attempt to eliminate our "freedoms" and our "right to know" are posting among us, I fear.....on this very forum. - host

Obama - Know a Man by the friends he keeps.

cj2112

Take up hunting, fishing, skeet shooting, cross country skiing, remodeling projects, woodworking, restore an old car, learn to weld, join a charitable club like the lions or the rotary club, join the local barbershop chorus (if you sing).

The_Jazz

Ustwo, you should train for the Olympics in something. There are lots of sports that require no athletic talent beyond hand-eye coordination (i.e. archery). Mind you, you don't have to actually qualify, but you can tell people that's why you're training. At least the people who don't understand.

__________________
"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." - B. Franklin
"There ought to be limits to freedom." - George W. Bush
"We have met the enemy and he is us." - Pogo

analog

Build a new house. Design it from the ground up, every last stick of wood and inch of sheetrock. Make it the perfect house. Indulge your interests into it- an example would be, if you're really into movies, make a room JUST for watching movies, like a mock theater.

magictoy

The health thing is a great idea. Learn a foreign language. Learn a musical instrument.

RUN FOR POLITICAL OFFICE!!!

Willravel

Have you ever considered joining the anti-war movement?

...

I've found that devoting my time to my friends and family can be deeply rewarding. I have hobbies - piano, cooking, art, yoga, history, tm - but it all falls to the side when I think about the grand scheme of my life. Granted, this is coming from a 23 year old.

Mephisto2

Jeez... This made me laugh, and Laugh and LAUGH!!

Hey Ustwo, you gotta credit a good sense of humour when you see it!

:-)


Mr Mephisto

genuinegirly

Olympics sounds like a good idea. But you don't have to go so far as the olympics. Choose an obscure sport, hunt down someone to instruct you, and have at it.


I'm a fan of Extreme Ironing myself.

__________________
"Sometimes I have to remember that things are brought to me for a reason, either for my own lessons or for the benefit of others." Cynthetiq

"violence is no more or less real than non-violence." roachboy

Zeraph

Have you studied much philosophy? That usually helps one find a purpose. Cause really that's what this is, not boredom, but purposelessness.

Ustwo

You mean I need to find my special purpose?

Sorry I couldn't resist.

Don't worry thats not it for me. I figured out life had no ultimate purpose when I was about thirteen, and it hasn't really phased me or changed how I do things. Its one thing you need to accept as an atheist. I'm just bored, but less bored than I was when I wrote this.

__________________
Agents of the enemies who hold office in our own government, who attempt to eliminate our "freedoms" and our "right to know" are posting among us, I fear.....on this very forum. - host

Obama - Know a Man by the friends he keeps.

magictoy

Buy a red convertible like every other guy your age with similar thoughts.

Ustwo

I know a guy who just got 'the' corvette.


I will not drive one in the rain.
I will not drive one to the train.
No, I will not buy myself a vet
to show that I am not dead yet!

__________________
Agents of the enemies who hold office in our own government, who attempt to eliminate our "freedoms" and our "right to know" are posting among us, I fear.....on this very forum. - host

Obama - Know a Man by the friends he keeps.

Zeraph

Don't worry, there's plenty of purpose to go around for athiest and agonistic alike. Most of my philosophy and purpose I've found for myself has nothing to do with the afterlife or religion.

So basically what you're saying is that you are living your life based on what a 13 year old told you?

Do yourself a favor a save yourself some time, admit to yourself you're looking for a purpose in life cause everyone gets bored, but they don't make threads about it (in this particular way).

Edit: P.S. Passion and purpose are one and the same in the end.
"...to find a passion worth devoting your life to."

magictoy

You've been reading to your child again, I see.