Several months ago, I was in a meeting with a group of women. At one point in the middle of a discussion, the woman next to me looked at her phone and whispered that her daughter, who was full-term pregnant with her second child, was in labor. Annoyed, the person leading the meeting reminded her to stay focussed and commented that she was in conference calls when she was in labor with each of her three children.
The last time someone asked you how you were or what you have been up to, what did you say? Did your answer contain the words "crazy busy"? How about your emails and Facebook statuses? Busy there too?
I've seen posts all over the internet lately containing the words, "stop the glorification of busy." The first time I read that sentence it stopped me in my tracks. The truth is that how we are spending our time is how we are spending our lives. I value things that are joyful and magical and connected and warm. Not one of those is a synonym for "busy".
Why do we insist on being or appearing so occupied? Because busy seems important and valuable. Busy implies you're accomplishing things and gaining ground and moving quickly while doing ten things at once.
I am a mono-tasker. In fact, it makes me mad to have to do more than one thing at a time. I want to focus and finish before starting anything new. It is one of the ways that I have learned to care for myself and honor my boundaries. I do still fall into the busy trap, however. I am forever beating myself over the head with the things left undone each day. Many days are very full.
Stop the glorification of busy.
Let's try to support each other in making room for joyful things. Let's do more that make us happy and honor that value in others. Let's choose joy over check marks. Let's find and share our happy.
The next time someone asks you how you are, avoid using the word "busy". Tell them about what you are loving lately. Tell them about something that made you laugh. Give them the good stuff!
I've posted this quote before, but it bears repeating:
“Peace, it does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, no trouble, or no hard work. It means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart.” ~Unknownxoxo
