Still Bored… Until I Asked
"Step outside and show me what you see..."
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Sometimes I ask myself, “Is it me?” I never know if it is or not. This week brought a few examples that left me scratching my head. Honestly, I still don’t know. I'm still scratching.
I’ve been bored maybe five times in my life. I mean when I’m not working and free from the drudgery of responsibility. This week marked the fifth time. I was staring out my backyard sliding glass door, reaching for something to write about. When nothing happens fast enough and I’m stuck in waiting mode, I try to make the most of my time. At my age, time is a gift—not to be wasted or thrown away. I read, do artwork, work out, jump in the car to explore random places, and every once in a while, I pause to take in my surroundings.
While sitting and staring out the window, the idea of birdwatching crossed my mind. But honestly, even that felt like a stretch. Yes, birdwatching is a peaceful pastime. It requires stillness and presence—two things I don’t do well.
I don’t scroll endlessly on social media or binge-watch TV to fill time—unless it’s after 5 PM.
I take the old-fashioned route:
Wandering into the kitchen, wondering what might be hiding
Falling down internet black holes about astronomy or health trends I’ll never actually use or remember
Rearranging the kitchen cupboards, as if moving the spices around will somehow change my life or make something magical happen
I had an idea to write about birdwatching this week, but that felt boring. Don’t get me wrong—birdwatching is actually a fun pastime. It requires sitting quietly and noticing what’s around us. There really is a lot happening in our world that we rarely give meaningful attention to. Watching birds reveals a hidden layer of community, one that flits and chirps just outside our awareness.
I filled the bird feeders out on the deck and watched the visitors come in—an assortment of species, some regulars, some new faces, and a few I didn’t quite recognize.
Still, I found myself staring out the window thinking, Okay, birds... now what?
Still bored
Then I got an idea: What was everyone else seeing at that moment? I reached out to random people I have some connection with, either from work or friends.
The ask was simple:
“When you go outside today—whether it’s to take the dog out, get the mail, go for a bike ride, or head off to work—grab your phone, take a random photo, and send it to me. Just let me know the city and state. No extra details needed.”
I chose people based on where they lived rather than whether I thought they’d actually respond. I picked 30 at random from my social media network. I followed up with a quick hello, hoped all was well, and asked for a small favor.
The responses? Well, you be the judge. Nearly everyone I know carries their phone—most have it hermetically sealed to their asses—so I wasn’t asking for professional 35mm shots. Just step outside, look around, and snap something that made you pause. A moment in time.
Let me first thank those who helped me out. Most won’t see this thank-you, since they don’t subscribe to my newsletter. I had randomly chosen people from different parts of the country—part of the fun for me—just to get a peek at what they were seeing right then.
A few sent messages and updates without photos. Some didn’t quite understand what I was asking. Which brought me back to wondering, “Is it me? Am I not communicating clearly anymore? Am I so old that I’m doddering and unaware? What the fuck?”
Here are a few of the images and responses that came back to me.
“…This tree is like old AF. Scroll in and check out his stump. He reminds me that life is ongoing. There are storms to weather throughout your life but most importantly you get through them.”—Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Central Middle School
“…Magnum turned 8 recently. His kidneys are holding up okay and his new joint treatment seems to really help his shoulders, which were getting bad. We're in Dog Valley and Frenchman today. I'll touch base again soon!”—Sierra Nevada
“…It makes me really happy to know I’ll be seeing you soon!!”
“…Someone pooped in the pool yesterday, thankfully I was not in it. Closed for 24 hours to be “shocked.” I’m giving it 48 hours!!”—random message sent while cruising on a pontoon… East Coast, Florida
And now for the…
Me:
Hey Herrick, I just need a photo from Las Vegas. Step outside and show me your view.
Herrick:
Do you see the humpback whales?
Me:
Yeah, but unless you’re in Hawaii, last I knew they aren’t any in Las Vegas… send me a picture from out the back door, where you’re standing right now
Herrick:
Okay, Petersen, here’s another one for ya…
Me:
Herrick, where are you standing right now?
Herrick:
Las Vegas, where the hell do you think I am?
And then…
Sensory overload? One special friend sent me a file with more than 50 photos. Great energy, bad format. I couldn’t open or save but a single one. Just a mystery slideshow of New Orleans, lost to the cloud…
Sometimes simple says it best.
Or… two places at once?
Loved these, except in the next image there is no snow. So did the snow melt?
Now, where is T-Man? He’s a foodie, a wine connoisseur, and a MENSA member. I don’t know him personally, but he’s one of Carl’s best friends. If I had to find him, where would I start looking?
Apparently, in two places at once.
Now, what did I gain from this little exercise?
I connected and reconnected.
One invited me for a long weekend in Florida. Another from New Jersey is planning a visit. I even ended up with a job offer from Northern New Mexico.
Not everyone sent a photo. One person was stuck in airports all day and said it just wasn’t a good time. Another chimed in from Las Vegas with a fascinating update involving meth labs, a wave of Californians, and—apparently—tigers. I’m still trying to unpack that one.
But that’s part of the charm. People responded in their own way, with their own lens. And all from one simple request: step outside and show me what you see.
Sometimes, all it takes is a small invitation to shift someone’s attention, to spark a response, to open a door.
I set out looking for inspiration and ended up rediscovering a little community—one photo at a time.
And about getting an image from Las Vegas?
I reached out and asked nine people from Las Vegas for a photobomb. This was sent to me minutes before publishing. ⬇️ It wasn’t quite what I imagined, what about you?
Such fun getting different responses and pictures.
Lets you travel without going somewhere.
Great article
Check out that turtle 🐢 hiding in the Las Vegas, behind the flowers. You didn't use my pic.