The vacation count has reached double digits, and as my wife was spending time with her parents talking about how they wanted to be treated when they die, I took Smallsteps into the city to play in a park. It is quite expensive to park the car in the city for a few hours, but now that my office is there, I have "free parking" anytime, including weekends. That is a decent perk the company offers.
And, since there are still people working in the office at the moment, Smallsteps and I went in to have a coffee with a friend of mine. There is even oat milk hot chocolate available in the machine for Smallsteps.
She felt pretty grown up.
Last week we were in the same park and Smallsteps made a friend there and I exchanged numbers with the parents. I messaged them to see if it was possible for them to meet again in the park, but unfortunately they didn't get the message until too late, but we have set something up for next week instead.
We went to a café that has gluten- and lactose- free food after the park.
But, what was interesting was that when we were walking back toward the car, Smallsteps looked at the time on the train station clock and was surprised it was so late, even though we really hadn't done that much. I have found over the last few weeks especially, she has become more conscious of the time spent doing things, which has led to her also complaining for the first time in her life, that she is "bored".
I remember that. I feel it often.
But, this reminded me of a conversation I was having with my wife last night about reading, where she said that I might want to read a particular book because I will find it interesting. It seems that she doesn't know me very well, because "interesting" is only so when it is going to bring me something of value. I don't do anything really for the pure entertainment factor of it, which is why I don't read that much these days.
I don't have the time to indulge myself when I am alone in entertainment.
We had this conversation because my wife got a subscription to an audiobook service, but says she hasn't found the time to actually listen to it. But, the "benefit" of an audiobook is that time is less critical, because you don't have to sit down to consume it, you can do it whilst doing other things - like going to the gym, or driving to work. At these times, I am listening to podcasts, or slices of podcasts, where it might take me a week to listen to the whole thing. Which is why I pick and choose what I listen to more carefully.
At least in my own opinion, I think a lot of people these days are consuming for consumption, whereas before people would be consuming more of what would bring them some additional value. The "interest" wasn't in being entertained, it was in being somehow a little bit better, to increase opportunity. It was about increasing capability, becoming more proficient, being able to do a little more. Now though, people are just consuming random pieces of content in an endless stream, even though it brings them nothing of value to their lives, other than the dopamine kick in the moment.
I have a lot more to write about this topic.
What do you do when bored?
Taraz
[ Gen1: Hive ]
