How many homes does the youth grow accustomed to... and his longing for the first home never ends

Boredom is one of the natural human emotions that occasionally afflicts the soul. One of its most important causes is living a social life on a single, monotonous pace, characterized by routine and the repetition of stimuli and indicators. These are among the primary causes; indeed, one could say they are the very cause of boredom. Some argue that the remedy for this feeling, which can serve as an effective tool for eliminating boredom from the soul, is changing one’s environment and breaking away from the daily routine that may induce boredom. The Arab poet remarked in this regard: “If the sun were to remain stationary in the sky forever, both Arabs and non-Arabs would grow weary of it.” He further added in one of his poems: “Have you not seen that still water becomes spoiled? If it flows, it is sweet; if it does not flow, it is not.” This confirms that lack of movement and the continuity of daily life in a single place lead to human boredom. For example, if a person were to live in the most luxurious, spacious, beautifully decorated, and aesthetically pleasing palaces, with all the necessities of life available, yet without any companionship from family or friends, and were to live there alone, boredom would inevitably overcome him, and he would flee that splendid place. Regarding remedies for boredom, our Arab poet said: “Travel, and you will find a substitute for those you leave behind; exert yourself, for sweet life lies in effort.” This can help eliminate boredom by enabling a person, even temporarily, to distance himself from the place where he permanently resides, away from all memories—whether happy or sad—associated with that place. Such memories can indeed become a source of boredom in the soul. Travel and distance awaken in a person’s feelings a sense of longing and nostalgia for family and homeland, reinforcing their attachment to the places where they spent the best days of their lives, during childhood and youth. Were it not for travel and separation from those places, a person would not rediscover the love for their original homeland, nor would they experience the nostalgia for that first place, which only arises through separation. Thus, travel, in addition to being an important cause for eliminating boredom from the soul, also provides humans with experience and skills in interaction, in associating with other peoples, and in learning about different customs, traditions, and lifestyles, from which they gain valuable experience. Through such practices, the causes of boredom are removed from the soul, negative psychological barriers are broken down, and new energy is generated for future human aspirations. Mohamed Salem Al-Balwan