Ask HN: Getting back a zest for life?

[sabatier]

I had an orgasm today, the first in several weeks (I'm a female btw, in case it's relevant).

In the moments after orgasm I felt inspired to do things I would never have wanted to do before. I had fantasies like the way I used to fantasize as a teenager, that I haven't had since. My mind felt really alive for those brief moments.

It really brought home to me how I'm living only half a life. Whilst I'm not unhappy, I feel like my mind is dull, and I don't get excitement from things the way I used to as a child.

I know this is a fairly normal feeling for an adult. I just wish there were a easy way of getting back that child-like mind that was excited about every little thing, and full of imagination and plans to have fun. I could fantasize wonderful scenarios in my head that made me feel like I was experiencing them for real. Nowadays I rarely fantasize about anything.

Any suggestions on how I could get back this child-like zest for life....? Any quick hacks?

I have tried mindfulness on and off for the past several years but I've always gotten bored of it and never gotten to a point where I felt it was helping me. Maybe I need suggestions on how to persist with that until I see results?

[vfulco2]

Try different hobbies you never imagined yourself doing. Even a few classes can bring on that cerebral "tingle-y" feeling and you will see yourself in a different light. You may not love them all but you make take to one and find something worthy of a lifetime of additional study.

[pbarnes_1]

Travel?

That's the only thing that does anything for me.

[a008t]

Same. I wonder if there is any way to recreate that in normal life?

I find that when travelling, I find myself excited to get up in the morning and I am quickly full of energy after waking up, motivated to do things. Not so in everyday life, even if I don't have to go to work / do anything during the day. Is it due to more sunlight? Better scenery?

It would be nice to increase the baseline to that state you experience when travelling. I definitely remember feeling similar / more powerful excitement and the feeling of being full of energy as a kid.

[insvwallhitsyou]

I get this sometimes when I'm lit. But unfortunately drinking isn't really a general solution.

Ennui/etc. with age seems to be a common feature of human life, going back centuries or more.