During the year, our little one enjoys Wise parenting center classes and spends most of her days busy at ballet class or the park. Our oldest has been at Wise in preschool for two years (!!), and she has enjoyed seven weeks of two spectacular summer camp sessions on our campus. Thank God, they are living happy, full, rich lives. And now, during the month of August, they’re both home every day together–with one loving caregiver or another–living at a slower and less programmed pace. It is delightful to see them just a little bit bored.
When I think of boredom, I don’t mean listlessness or ennui but rather a blank page with endless possibilities. During the year, we are all buzzing from activity to activity, from this special event to this birthday party. Our lives are full and rich and we are happy and entertained. When we aren’t scheduled, we often pick up our phones or tablets without thinking just to keep our minds busy. There seems to be so little space left in our brains to just think, to play, to learn from doing rather than scrolling; to lay in a literal or proverbial hammock and just be.
What I’ve seen these past few weeks at home with the girls is a renewed sense of creativity that comes only from rest. They are more eager to “cook” for us in their toy kitchen, they want to spend as much time as possible outside getting messy whenever it isn’t unbearably hot, and they are excited to practice new skills like swimming and drawing. Last Monday, we spent my entire day off together; away from TV and tiny screens, out and about at the park and at the ice cream shop and then reading for hours, just enjoying each other’s company. What a special delight to not be so busy, to just be a little bit bored.
Jewish tradition offers a radical space every week–25 hours of Shabbat–for us to intentionally turn off while remaining well-spirited. We’re encouraged to set aside our distractions–to sing, to look our loved ones in the eyes and connect, to study, to hike, to dwell in the space of unbusyness. And certainly, we can enjoy a little slice of Shabbat anytime by making space for sweet quiet, rejuvenating calm, an openhearted lack of diversion anytime we need it. I hope you’ll make time for just a little bit of summer boredom yourself.
— Cantor Emma Lutz