thepancakeboy

[thepancakeboy]

In Defense of Boredom

The other day I caught myself browsing Facebook at the urinal.

I say “caught myself” because that’s what it truly felt like—a different part of my consciousness stumbled upon this scene and was horrified by what it saw.   Because I thought about all the times I instinctively reach for my phone to idly flip through social media—pretty much every moment I’m stationary and alone...which is a problem.   So, my goal is to be more mindful and deliberate with my smartphone usage, and not have it just a salve for momentarily solitude. 

But more than some #GetOffMyLawn response to modern tech usage, this really feels like a desire...to be bored again.  No, I mean it.  Every great idea I’ve ever had, every solution to a problem I’ve needed to work out, every greater understanding of a situation that keeps hanging around my head like an unwanted houseguest…has come from being bored.  From not being distracted by media.  From letting my brain actually process my experiences.

Boredom yields creativity, insight and interest in the world around us.  Let’s all aspire to be bored “out” of our minds, because getting outside our own heads is exactly what we need.

[thepancakeboy]

On this edition of our new segment, #CassetteClassics, I discover an old gem long forgotten that answers the question, "what would a 10 year old improv singing a little tune about Donkey Kong Country over top of 'Oh, We Ain't Got A Barrel Of Monkeys" sound like?' The year was (most likely) 1994. I was incredibly into Super Nintendo. That's really all you need to know.

[thepancakeboy]

"Right Now." Paul Ryan is a kid threatening to hold his breath as a negotiating technique.

[thepancakeboy]

I'm incredibly curious to know what I've been watching that caused the YouTube folks to say, "Yup, this is definitely up Jordan's alley."

[thepancakeboy]

April 19: this person's procrastination game is strong.

[thepancakeboy]

#Preach

[thepancakeboy]

Throwback Thursday: in high school, my Odyssey of the Mind team made it to World Finals. This is the moment we found out. I have virtually no memory of this actually happening, but, thanks to this tape, I'm led to believe that it did.

[thepancakeboy]

Setbacks

We all like to think we’re masters of our own destiny, that the only thing standing between disaster and things going exactly the way we want them to is our own focus and hardwork.  I buy into that, too…the very sort of “pull yourself up by your bootstraps” mentality that says setbacks come solely from a lack of focus.

But then there I was, sitting in a hospital, waiting for the opportunity to write a check I didn’t want to write, for a shot I didn’t want to receive, to be followed by three more shots I certainly didn’t want to get.  And all because of a sick little bat, found wrapped around the handle of a frying pan in my kitchen sink, bathed in a pool of January sunlight.

Not exactly what I expected to greet me upon my arrival home that afternoon.

We trick ourselves into believing we’re in control of our lives, but, really, the unexpected lurks around every corner.  I believe the trick is to keep working at minimizing your turnaround time from annoyance to acceptance.  

I’ll let you know when I’ve made some strides at closing the gap.

[thepancakeboy]

I see you, Associated Press.

[thepancakeboy]

To review: this is a stuffed poo toy.

[thepancakeboy]

Footnotes

Not long ago, I drove my stepson to the mall.  On the way, we were talking about his favorite show, The Walking Dead, and, since it’s one of the most popular programs on television, why they only do 16 episodes a season, versus another one of his favorites, Modern Family, which does a full 24.  I started to explain that the former was a cable show and the latter was on broadcast television, but I quickly realized this answer was useless…because my stepson is 15, and words like “broadcast” and “cable” as different kinds of TV mean nothing to him; all media is consumed on an “on-demand” basis, and the days of even knowing what a TV antenna is, let alone having personally used one to watch a program…are over.

This, I realize, is the way of the world—every generation watches as things that were once such common knowledge become historical footnotes.  And I’m sure if I called up my dad right now he could easily rattle off a laundry list of almost identical experiences he’d had with me.

So, that being said…I now realize this is actually a blog post about the day I finally felt like a real “adult.”  

[thepancakeboy]

We meet again, old friend. #TBT

[thepancakeboy]

Sometimes, I feel almost crippled by my attempts to see both sides of an argument, which leads me to questioning my own opinion until I don’t feel confident in my convictions at all. This old “Calvin & Hobbes” summed up this issue for me pretty well.

[thepancakeboy]

#TBT - Just another Thursday afternoon for Dan and me.

[thepancakeboy]

Tonight's Google search.

[thepancakeboy]

This best Sunday matinee. (at Traverse Area District Library Woodmere)

[thepancakeboy]

Be Thankful For The Distractions

Content creators, here’s something to trot out whenever you feel as though you’re stuck in an unoriginal rut:

Right now, a fascinating genius is being boring.

Creative people aren’t creative all the time.  When you’re low on inspiration/output, it’s easy to spiral quickly if you think others are not only better at getting stuff made, but that they live a life of uninterrupted inspiration.  But you can’t let this myth set up camp in your head.

Remember.  Right now:

an acclaimed songwriter is heating up soup.  

a transcendently brilliant actor is cleaning the bathroom.  

a revolutionarily insightful author is balancing their checkbook.

a beautifully talented painter is mowing the lawn.

These creative giants became—and remain—creative giants because they make art even when they have to deal with the tedious nature of daily life.  And while success starts to insulate you from some of the day-to-day monotony (i.e. you can pay people to do some of the stuff you don’t want to do), not only are you unable to completely do away with it…you wouldn’t want it that way!  There is no fantasy existence where you’re isolated from all your responsibilities, except a need to create.  What’s more, such a life would leave you with nothing to say WITH your art.  

To quote Sinbad, “Comedians are funnier when they’re riding the bus.”  You’re better when you’ve got other stuff going on.  Be thankful for the distractions.