Stop the presses. I think I was just bored.

This summer has been a grand experiment.

For the first time since I was 13 years old, I took the summer off. I’m still blogging and podcasting, but I had no deadlines, no business trips, no customer responsibilities. I was determined to explore this concept known as “slowing down.”

This hiatus was self-imposed. I’ve had some health issues creep up on me, so I needed to spend more time relaxing, exercising, and healing.

Well, that was the plan, anyway. I’ve been partially successful. My health issues are under control. I’ve read a few books. I took some magnificent hiking and kayaking trips. I painted a few (not very good) watercolor pictures.

And then, the weirdest thing happened. This unfamiliar shudder came over me. I felt bored.

I do not believe I have had this feeling in over a decade. When you’re building a business, there is always something to do! But for a brief shining summer, I put that entrepreneurial frenzy aside, and I felt this paralyzing and scary feeling.

My moment of boredom was followed by a massive wave of guilt. How dare I feel BOREDOM! Am I wasting my life?

I was unprepared for this shock of emotion.

Can you be happy and bored?