For those of you who have ever had children, perhaps the following will resonate:
“[Mom/Dad]….I’m borrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrred.”
Over the past few weeks, this has been the battle cry in my house. It actually happens every year around this time when, with every day:
- the snowy wonder of Winter becomes an increasingly heavy, wet blanket,
- the size of our indoor “play” space appears to shrink ever smaller, and
- the meter that gauges my arsenal of innovative entertainment ideas hovers around empty.
One of my standard responses:
“Play a game.”
No so fast. Easier said than done!
Recently, it occurred to me that the junior members of my household are not alone in their experiencing March malaise. I’m bored too. I may not literally stomp by feet insisting that someone relieve me of the monotony. It’s just that typically I begin the new year renewed by its spirit and what it offers. By March, my spirit is often soggy, damp. I too come up short with ways to keep things at least momentarily exciting against the backdrop of my impatience for Spring and conditions that hold more promise.
Ironically, the more I thought about it, the more I realized that games (despite a closet brimming with them) are not the answer to the angst that settles in my household and each of its members. Consider, as examples, some traditional board varieties and their messages.
- Candy Land – Boredom be gone – a sweet outcome awaits.
- Monopoly – Boredom be gone – acquisition of stuff is the answer.
- Operation – Boredom be gone – careful, meticulous action yields victory.
AND, OF COURSE,
- The Game of Life – Boredom be gone – meaningful milestones are just around the corner.
The meta-messages – it’s just a matter of some patience and perhaps a bit of luck and ennui will fade — things will start to happen!
As far as I’m concerned, March doldrums leave no room for patience and luck (despite the mid-month abundance of four leaf clovers). So, I’ve started to think about it as the month to re-write the rules of these games — the games we inflict on others or ourselves. Rather, I can banish boredom by:
- Creating opportunities to treat myself as opposed to waiting for the “good ship lollipop’s” arrival
- Attending to my own estate (e.g. closets, yard) as opposed to holding my breath for a [March] windfall
- Speaking of wind, throwing occasional caution to it by doing something unnerving to awaken my nervous system
AND, OF COURSE,
- Creating meaningful daily goals as opposed to counting the endless days to the annual birthday or anniversary
The whines of March can’t be extinguished with the standard “playbook.” To create game changing moments, you have to embrace new rules for yourself and then teach them to others. If you agree, consider the following:
- What is the source of March whines in your life?
- What new “games” can you play to shake things up?
- How will you gauge victory?
- What’s the impact on you, others?