The best part of having a girlfriend was that people stopped asking me questions about my sexuality that I wasn’t ready to answer (that, and being able to eat 2 different meals at a restaurant. I miss this so much, being able to share an omelet and French toast at the same time is so great). The worst part was that I was never bored.

I got into comedy improv on a whim, auditioning just because I was bored on a weekend. Going out that day and cracking the same jokes I always did ended up being the best decision of my college career. 

I fasted for 3 days just to see how it felt. That fast ended in the morning, and buying those 2 Everything bagels after having not eaten for 72 hours was a divine experience (I lied, I actually bought 3 and ate them all). I then did it again during a school week for an extra challenge. I was riding my bike home from class in what felt like slow motion on the last day. I broke that fast with pizza, which I had spent 2 days craving (I don’t really even like pizza). I have never before bought a frozen pizza and never will again. That experience was not divine. I did another 24 hours when doing field work in Costa Rica. That one was a lot less fine, but if I died, you wouldn’t be hearing about it right now, so it ended up okay (and with some really yummy black bean soup). 

When I can convince myself that I’m bored, things happen. So far, it’s brought me to Costa Rica, earned me a job in a research lab, left me starving for days, and made me lifelong friends. Boredom makes me me.

I go for barefoot walks during sunset and wish that I had more boredom in my life. 

Alex Motawi