Her words, my random thoughts.

” Child or man, we spend half our time being bored; and we are bored because our thoughts wander from the thing in hand – we are inattentive.”

It seems that we have become a generation that is easily bored. The ability to keep one attentive in this day and age of constant entertainment is a challenge. The constant stimulation by simply swiping and clicking is one of the main causes of inattentiveness. We seek stimulation after stimulation, and we end up ‘bored’ once the stimulation wanes because of lack of excitement.

And inattentiveness easily leads to boredom because we are always ready for the next fresh stimulation.

No wonder toys that come with blinking lights, bright colors, loud sounds, and other “catchy” feature often end up not being noticed after several minutes. The toy has done its job of catching the child’s attention but once it is caught, it does not sustain because it does not invigorate but merely stimulate.

Stimulating vs Invigorating

Stimulate: to rouse to action or effort.
Invigorate: to give vigor to; fill with life and energy; energize.

These two words seem familiar but they are not quite the same. One is filling and giving, and the other is simply rousing.
And it helps to know the difference. 

It is but natural for all of us to seek something that appeals to us. After all, we are curious beings. But there is a difference between something that feeds life to ones curiosity and something that merely touches and excites the surface.

“When for a moment we do brace ourselves to an act of attention, the invigorating effect of such act is surprising.” 

Invigorating – that is the word she chose, and it is a word most of us can choose to describe our experience with a living education as well.

Her words, my random thoughts.