INSPIRING BOREDOM!
‘About 25 years ago, I went to Taiwan and bought a bookmark. On it was a proverb which said, “The only time that can be possessed by you is now”. It has stayed with me and always springs to mind when I’m worrying about something that has or hasn’t happened, or putting something off. It’s the only quote I know and have never, ever posted it on social media.
Even if I did, I doubt it would get thousands of likes or reposts, because it’s not obvious enough. It takes a bit of thought to work out what it means. Unlike some of the daft stuff that swamps my timelines. Some are so long and relentless I’ve had to ‘mute’ people I follow who post them because I don’t have the time for it all.
But it’s the short, shouty orders in capital letters that are the most daft. One of the more popular is
“BE KIND”, as if a mean-spirited, nasty troll will see it and suddenly think, “Oh yeah, OK!” And it’s not just on social media – people have “HOME” in big letters in their kitchens, presumably in case they forget where they are. Or “PEACE” and “LOVE”. Just stop it, it’s not the Sixties! The best one, though, is “BREATHE”, like it’s something you might forget to do.
I mean, what do people get from these? They’re supposed to be inspirational, but their sheer volume and ubiquity just dilutes the message and renders them meaninglessness. Like horoscopes. You might feel comforted by them for the few seconds you’re reading them, but then they’re gone – and nothing’s changed.’