I’m a healthy as-can-be 83-year old Jewish cancer survivor, now diabetic (tough to walk; sometimes can’t feel my toes), moved from NYC to NJ, close to my religious son and family … nine divine children (5 girls, 4 boys), two other sons, 5 more grandchildren, Columbia University M.A., a wonderful, cozy Havanese puppy, retired speech & hearing pathologist and food writer and editor, love to cook and bake–and bored, bored, bored.
Feeling Bored by Joan
February 1, 2014 by ElderChicks
8 Responses
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I find that enjoying what I can do now rather than looking at what I can no longer do makes me feel good. I also find that volunteering at something you enjoy certainly keeps one from getting bored. Can you offer cooking classes at an after school facility?
Volunteer ..you will use your time productively and meet new people! You will get more than you give.
I’m with you, Joan. I’m a reluctantly-retired University Professor. I write four or more lines every day for my magnum opus–(that’s been going on for forty years!), do various puzzles, watch t.v., play Words With Friends with friends and Scrabble (on line) with friends and strangers. I take a look at Facebook, read contemporary nonfiction books for our book club, and I’m also bored, bored, bored! But you sound terrific. Boring isn’t so bad.
Sounds like it’s time for a project and/or new activity. Can you get to water aerobics nearby? Feels good, does good, makes a difference for me! How about creating recipe books for some of the delicious grandchildren – or regular baking dates with them? I’ll bet our friends on ElderChicks can come up with lots of ideas – one or more may hit the spot. Please give us an update.
Volunteerism is a good solution. How about reading to young children? The local Temple probably has day care sessions and you can start youngsters on the path to reading and learning. Rewarding for a teacher?
I understand the transition from urban NYC to NJ can be culture shock, literally, since there is so much to see and do in the city, but boredom is not a word I am familiar with. I am 67, a retired school librarian, and my calendar is so full, I had trouble scheduling a doctor appointment – not because of the doctor, but because of me. I am lucky to have a group of friends who like to explore, which we are trying to do at least once a month, in addition to planning some overnight short trips. I took them to a glassblowing studio, and they had a ball making something with glass. I am a glass artist. I don’t usually work with blown glass, but occasionally I like to do that. When one of us sees notice of a show or a movie, we ask who wants to go, and usually someone does.
But in a new place? Find a group and join it. My cousin is involved with Toastmasters which she joined when she moved to the DC area. I am involved with Hadassah. Other friends volunteer with the literacy council, teaching immigrants English. Another friend gets paid to teach English to immigrants with two separate organizations. Yet others tutor or volunteer in the school systems around. Somewhere there is a group or a person who needs your expertise, whatever it is, or your enthusiasm or just your willingness to work. And when you give that, you get a lot more.
I can say I’m never bored. There is so much to do in this world. Just join something that you are interested in. I’ve been retired from work for over 10 years now but I still work part time as a Librarian at our local library. I also belong to a book club, genealogy club and go to OLLI classes at UConn one day a week. So find your passion and go to it!
Everybody always recommends volunteering. But for some, this is difficult. It means being proactive when maybe we were used to letting life come to us.
To find volunteer work that goes beyond stuffing envelopes requires commitment. You have to search out the opportunities. There are now sites on the Internet that ask you specifics about the skills you can offer, and then direct you to organizations that need those skills. (It sounds as though you have much to offer.) Volunteermatch.org and idealist.org are two sites to look at.
Of course, once you have signed up you have to show up. You have to regard your volunteer work as seriously as you did when you were being paid. Being bored is as much a function of attitude as it is of the circumstances of your life.”Better to light a candle than curse the darkness!”