Boredom is a luxury

“I am so bored, anyone care to chat?”


“Boredom!”

“Bored to death”...... etc etc


These cries are so common nowadays, you can almost hear every other person mouthing it in any social network web during weekends. They sound absolutely desperate and full of despair. Boredom must be the most common sickness for the youngsters of the 21st century.


To understand the origin of this situation would require a complex study which is beyond my capacity and capability. So let’s not go into that.

My question is: “Is it so disastrous to be bored?”


People in misery never complain about being bored. They are so worn down by the problems that they have, their mind has no free time. Solutions searching occupies a major part of their waking moment. The word boredom never crosses their mind. Boredom is a luxury. It happens only to people who has nothing to do and nothing to worry about. No stress on term examination, no anguish of job losing, no health problems, no need to concern about their children. no torture of hunger, no flood in the house. Nothing. The moment when totally nothing is happening. That is where boredom creeps in.


A kind reminder to those who has the temptation to declare oneself bored. Before saying the five-letters word, please be aware of how lucky you are. It is actually a privilege to be bored. And don’t ever make it sounds like you are in such a pathetic situation. YOU ARE NOT.




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Fail to prepare, prepare to fail

The phone ring. It is Pat.

“I am now in the hospital. I was rushed to the emergency department on Monday due to an excruciating pain in the abdomen. They found a cyst in my ovary. The doctors are deciding whether to operate or not.”

“Do you have health insurance?” I asked her.

“No”, she replied. 

My heart drops. Since her arrival to this country 3 months ago, she encounters almost every misfortune one can possibly imagine. Now this, what could be next?

Pat was full of hope and enthusiasm when she wrapped up everything in America. With a master degree and several years of experience in law practice, she was confident to meet new challenges in a new country. Where to go next? Italy seems a romantic place, with delicious pizza, singing gondoliers, charming Italian men. Or so it appears in the movies.   

Merely after a month, her landlord raised her rental by 120%, citing as “winter tariff”. There was no choice but to seek a new place in October, a month where hundreds of university students are doing the same. Her working experience and education bears little relevance in this country. Her sufficiency in the Italian language is not a barrier but yet enough to convince. Jobs are not available. Pat has no contacts, no relatives, no friends. Money is running out.  Depression is slipping in.

Returning to American is an improbable option for Pat has given up her job and apartment in order to come to Italy. Blame it on the lack of research. It’s nice to live on instinct at times. But for such a drastic change in life, preparation and research is absolutely essential. Fail to prepare, prepare to fail.

Let’s hope everything will turn up well for Pat. She deserves better. 

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