Boredom has negative and positive effects on a person. And it isn't random -- we choose how it will effect us.
Kids often don't know how to consciously choose to combat boredom though, including our four-legged kids! On the left is Maggie, my adult daughter's puppy. She has been living with us since last fall since my daughter and her husband live in a no-pets apartment. We have grown to love her, but life with a puppy is kind of messy and a wonderful example of boredom's negative consequences.
She's become a monkey killer.
But it's okay. The love we have for Maggie more than takes care of the mess.
Loving someone always involves mess.