Blessed Boredom
Your Gateway: a poem, lived inspo debut from W.T. Maki, invite and recorded sess.
“All of humanity's problems stem from man's inability to sit quietly in a room alone."
~ Blaise Pascal
A shift up in today’s SoulFull Way, but in keeping with our Adventure theme all the same. Within you’ll find a wee poem, a wondrous article from my hubby and delight of a kindred Todd Maki (his debut on Substack!), and an invite n’ link to join a circle of life adventurers this Sunday and the recording of our fabulous SoulFull Session last Sunday.
If you’ve ever desired, delved into or wanted to explore boredom and all the adventures that bloom in that listless light …
this is for you, kindred soul.
And now …
✨a case for lollygagging
You called me to the miniscule,
the minutiae,
the mundane of a day,
red running veins in leaves of deepest green,
fuzz of sunshine and jet black on the backs of buzzing bees,
the hum and flutter of birds drawing nectar from brilliant trumpets,
the cadence of wind softly rising across forests of ancient pine,
and brook trickling will and way over ancient boulders to hushed pools.
In the laze of a summer afternoon,
spread wide across soft moss beneath,
I swear I heard the fairies whisper in wonder
of such a large lump of being such as me.
Time ticked into hours,
my mind wandered through truths,
into visions and worlds that left me breathless, weightless, limitless.
You made me lay down all plans to be purposeful,
and in the stillness and endless boredom of it all,
I,
privy to majesty existing only here,
was never more alive.
Oh boredom,
best friend and insatiable beast,
how you awaken an unfettered desire to
loiter here for eternity.
© Jennifer M. Maki 2026
✨How I Changed my Life through Boredom
By William Todd Maki
Some things are contagious. Some things are intuitive. Some things come from that voice in your head – the good one, not the one that tells you to double down on a pair of threes. Do you catch wanderlust by sharing a popsicle with someone that is interesting, or is it ingrained in your DNA? Maybe a combination of all of these, maybe none of these.
Who am I to say. I’m not a shaman. But I think there is more to it than having a metaphoric anvil dropped on your head by the Roadrunner. It is more like finding fuel to spark a fire.
Like creativity, I believe you are born with an adventurous side, but it manifests when people tell you things like ‘you can’t make a living by creating art’. Or, with the number of people making it to the NHL being so small, that it is almost statistically impossible to become a pro. At 18, we are told over and over that the goal of life is to find a vocation that pays well, has a good pension and has some chance for promotion. I always thought that this was solid advice for other people.
I would say I have an adventurous side. You couldn’t tell by looking at me, but it’s there. You can see adventure as a sparkle in the eyes of others. And when you connect – sparkle to sparkle – the fun begins. Sometimes the spark to the flame is another Mad Hero that is not content with just a solid, responsible life. I think I’ve hidden my Mad Hero side well most of my life. Respectable career, paucity of tattoos, plethora of conversations smiling through the monotony. These are the hallmarks of many adventurous people. My better half has that sparkle and together we have had many adventures. Some I can even tell you about. Remember there is a big difference between arrested and convicted.
But I think that, in addition to having a partner in crime, there is something else that is necessary. Boredom and feeling stuck are actually our friends. These are the prerequisites of a life bordering on being a ne’er do well.
I heard Margo Timmins interviewed on CBC Radio years ago. For those of you that are not Canadian, and are not of a certain age, you might not recognize that name. She was the lead singer of a band called the Cowboy Junkies. They were a great alternative country band that formed in the mid 80’s.
In the interview, she was asked about why she thought there were so many great Canadian songwriters. Gordon Lightfoot, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Ron Sexsmith, Robbie Robertson were mentioned (I highly recommend listening to Ron Sexsmith). She gave a very thoughtful answer. She said it was because of the distance between gigs. She was talking about how long it was to drive between cities in Canada before you were a big act and could afford to fly. What did she mean by this?
Canada is the second largest country in the world. The cities are mostly lined up within 100 miles of the US border. So, you had to drive long distances between cities. Outside of Southern Ontario, you had to drive 6, 8, 12 hours between gigs. You sat and looked out the window and were forced to examine your life without real distractions. When I grew up, if you drove between Toronto and my hometown Thunder Bay, there were long hours of driving where, if you hit the search button on your radio (I know, I’m dating myself), it would literally scan for hours without finding a station.
So, you thought, you dreamed, you were self-reflective. And if you were Canadian, you were probably self-deprecating in your approach to life. These are the moments that the voice inside your head wakes up and says, “You should study History at University”, or “You should just move from a city of 120,000 in the middle of nowhere (it wasn’t the end of the earth, but you could see it from there) to the ‘Big Smoke’” – a city with a contiguous population of about 12 million. “Nah, you don’t need a job lined up. There must be lots there.” This is the thinking of someone with a bachelor’s degree in history.
But what a ride. When I was 17, I thought, I’d like to play in a band. I bought a bass guitar and an amp and was in a band in two weeks. Playing in front of crowds in three months. The boredom lowered my inhibitions and opened my eyes. At every step, getting stuck in a rut causes you to come alive, causes you to think outside the box and you look for a friend with a sparkle in his/her eyes.
The adventure comes just after you turn off your phone and look out the window until you have focused on what is around you and discover what is lacking. Once you get to Boredom Street, turn left onto Adventure Avenue and don’t stop until you have something to write about.
Like David Bowie said, “The secret to rock and roll is not to be boring.”
To meet us ‘round the soulful
fire as we align our living with the values we cherish ...
✨your invitation for Sunday July 19th
So here's to a little more lollygagging, a little less rushing, and a whole lot more listening to that wise voice within. If you're feeling called to explore what adventure is asking of you, we'd so love to gather with you around the soulful fire this Sunday.
✨ Sunday, July 19th — Special LIVE Panel Conversation
The Call to Adventure
A Conversation About Living Our Yes! Life
Join us for a lively and heartfelt conversation with:
✨ Sarah Newton-John
✨ Dr. Tanis Gaitens
✨ Miles Hack
There are moments in every life when something calls to us.
A dream. A possibility. A new direction. A quiet knowing we can no longer ignore.
Together, we’ll explore the adventures within and in the world; the invitations that changed our lives, the leaps we almost didn’t take, the adventures that shaped us, and what happens when we trust ourselves enough to say yes to the paths calling us forward.
We’ll reflect on courage, possibility, purpose, and the unexpected places life can take us when we follow what feels most deeply true.
Whether you’re standing at the edge of a new chapter, contemplating a leap of your own, or simply longing to live more fully, we hope you’ll join us around the soulful fire.
Your Zoom link: HERE.
✨ Wednesday, July 22nd
The SoulFull Collective Special Edition of The SoulFull Way
Living Our Yes! Lives
A special collaborative edition of The SoulFull Way featuring writers, creators, entrepreneurs, and adventurers sharing stories of courage, meaningful risk-taking, unexpected turns, life-changing decisions, and the remarkable places life can take us when we answer the call.
Together, we’ll explore what happens when we trust ourselves, embrace possibility, and say yes to the adventures that shape our lives.
✨ Saturday, July 25th
The Soul of Adventure Workshop
A two-hour immersive online experience exploring how to cultivate a more adventurous spirit and create a life aligned with your deepest values, longings, and possibilities, followed by an optional stay, sip n’ chat afterward.
Flow includes:
✨ a sprinkle of meditation
✨ guided introspection through your Adventure Guided Journal
✨ identifying the adventures currently calling you
✨ exploring the fears, stories, and assumptions that may be holding you back
✨ uncovering your personal definition of adventure
✨ soulful conversation and reflection
✨ meaningful connection in small groups
✨ creating your next courageous step forward
Free for newcomers, those in need of support always, and paid subscribers of The SoulFull Way.
Spaces are intentionally limited to support meaningful conversation and connection.
Message me for details and to reserve your place.
✨ If you missed our Sunday SoulFull Session July 12th
here’s your recording …
Or if you’ve already found precious value here and would like to make a small donation, that is always deeply appreciated.
To your week of boredom, sweet boredom and all the blissful creative insights and flowy ideas that come of just that. See you Sunday!
✨jenni
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