OUR world is suffering from a sense of ennui. There are indicatives as manifested through the years.
At the home front, when my grandchild spins like a dog chasing its own tail, I am most certain she is bored.
Either fashion has shifted or Filipinos are just getting tired of wearing the same old fashionable blue jeans. I ask, why do Filipinos love to wear blue jeans that look like they have been riddled with bullets while they were hanging to dry?
Is it probable that we are fed up with the traditional Filipino favorite dishes like kare-kare, dinuguan, sinigang? The use of Ilocanos’ bagnet changed the entire preparation and presentation. It still tastes good though.
“Lodi,” “petmalu,” and other words altered titillate the mind even if the meanings stay the same; these are indications that the usual words are now monotonous to our ears.
Some men who became tired of the usual routine at the gym, venture on extreme sports even if these are very risky. Artwork on canvas is no longer limited to the use of paint, charcoal and water color as a medium. There are now artists who use clay, garlic, sand and coffee as newly discovered mediums.
There are people who do things out of the ordinary, not just for the sake of breaking world records but simply because they want to experience an adventure. Some people go around the world on a bike. I have yet to hear somebody do it by paragliding or swimming it out.
It is a totally different level of boredom when you find the God-given look, your face, to be dull, hence your need to change.
My grandmother used to tell me that an idle mind is the playground of the devil. With the enormous innovations, I am confident that will not happen because I believe innovation is the best remedy for boredom.
Author Gemma Ehrenfeld wrote “why do people get bored?” and cited a scientific study conducted by neuron scientist Dr. Irving Biederman at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles. He said that boredom hinges on opioids, a chemical in the brain that gives us pleasure. Biederman pointed out studies that this also gives heroin and morphine their kick. A new experience will stimulate the release of opioids since the brain is hardwired to seek more, looking for stimulation.
Biederman added that perpetually bored people mess up their lives when they drop out of school, change jobs too often and ditch a good marriage.