The Art of Grit

I’ve been sitting with Nietzsche’s words for a while now: “Is not life a hundred times too short for us to bore ourselves?” It makes me pause and think about how I’ve been spending my time. Have I allowed myself to slip into routines that leave me uninspired? I’m not sure if it’s always intentional, but sometimes life feels like it’s moving on autopilot—same things, different day. And yet, life is so brief, so fragile. How did I let the spark fade into something more… ordinary?

I wonder, am I guilty of playing it safe? There’s a certain comfort in familiarity, but comfort isn’t always the same as joy, is it? Have I traded excitement for predictability, choosing what’s easy rather than what’s meaningful? Sometimes, I think I convince myself that there’s more time—time to try something new, to explore, to break free from whatever cycle I’m in. But Nietzsche’s words don’t let me sit in that comfort too long. Life, after all, is ticking by. Do I really want to spend it bored?

But boredom isn’t just about doing nothing—it’s about a lack of engagement with life. I’ve realized that some of the most draining moments aren’t when I’m idle, but when I’m caught in the grind of tasks that don’t light me up. How did I get to a point where I let so much of my energy get eaten up by things that don’t feel fulfilling? It makes me wonder—where’s the room for curiosity, for spontaneity, for those moments that make life feel… alive?

The truth is, I don’t have all the answers, but I do know this: life is short. And I’m starting to feel like I owe it to myself to make it more interesting, more vibrant. Maybe it’s about taking a few risks—trying something I’ve been putting off, even if it feels uncertain. Or maybe it’s about seeing the familiar with new eyes, finding joy in the little things. I’m not sure yet, but I think the first step is acknowledging that something needs to shift.

I think about how easy it is to get caught in the routine, in the responsibilities, in the “shoulds.” But when was the last time I did something just for the sake of it? Not because I had to, but because it excited me? It’s funny, I’m not even sure I remember. That’s a wake-up call in itself.

So, where does this leave me? I’m not saying I have it figured out, but I feel a nudge to be more intentional about how I’m spending my days. To inject a bit more wonder, more creativity into my life—even if it’s small steps at first. Maybe that’s how it starts. And who knows? Maybe those small shifts will lead to bigger changes.

Life really is too short to be bored. Maybe it’s time to start acting like it.