The Kings of the jungle often reach a weight of 500 pounds, and strikes fear into the hearts of all who hear them roar.  The lion is a large and muscular feline with a compact build. With short, powerful legs, a strong jaw, and long canine teeth, few animals are safe in their presence because the lion can bring down and kill very large prey.  It felt strange to be so close to this 300 pound female and feel no fear. 

        I was told by her keepers that she seldom did more than what I saw her doing right at this moment.  She is completely bored with life and has resigned herself to simply laying here with her tongue hanging out.  I tried to imagine what it would be like to be so powerful, so strong, and almost unstoppable, yet not have the strength to even walk around her manmade habitat.  Once upon a time she roamed free and stood proud; once she ran fast and struck hard against any who dared to stand in her path.  But that was a long time ago and far away.

        Boredom is the consciousness of a barren, meaningless existence; it is what happens when we lose contact with the things that really matter in life.  I believe that boredom overtook our furry friend the moment she realized that everything in life was now going to be handed to her without any effort on her part.  Can you imagine the emptiness of a life filled with hotels, room service and no place to go?  Once you worked for your food, once your days were filled with uncertainty and adventure, but today is different.  What if every day was exactly like yesterday with nothing to work for or look forward to?  How frustrating and barren that kind of life would be.

        The good news is we can choose to live our lives with enthusiasm, zeal and passion.  If we are bored that only means that we choose to live a boring life.  Enthusiasm makes ordinary people extraordinary.  Listen, wherever you are, be all there.  Live to the hilt every moment, don’t be a wallflower, join in the dance of life and realize that we can succeed at almost anything for which we have unlimited enthusiasm.  Let us love with a love that glows.  Let us believe with a faith that kindles.  Let us serve with a devotion that consumes. Let us hate evil with a fierceness that burns. Let us rejoice with a joy that radiates. Love is perfected in the fire enthusiasm.

Something to think about:

• Enthusiasm is the element of success in everything. It is the light that leads and the strength that lifts men on and up in the great struggles of life.  It robs endurance of difficulty and makes pleasure of duty.

• Acquire enthusiasm; you can’t be enthusiastic and unhappy at the same time.

• If you are satisfied just to get by, step aside for a man who isn’t.

• The most contagious thing in the world is lack of enthusiasm, and the second most contagious is enthusiasm.

• Nothing truly great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.

• Enthusiasm extinguishes the gloom in the room.

• Nobody is bored when he is trying to make something that is beautiful or to discover something that is true.

• Are you bored with life? Then throw yourself into some work you believe in with all your heart, live for it, die for it, and you will find happiness that you had thought could never be yours.

Wherever you go, go with your whole heart.
Rickey Moore