When did “busy” become the word of the day? Think about it. When was the last time you asked someone how he or she is doing where “busy” wasn’t part of their response?
In a society that values self-sacrifice and hard work over self-examination and personal growth, “busy” is the Holy Grail, while self care is viewed as a luxury. This mindset leads to communities lacking depth, substance and empathy. I can’t help but cringe every time someone expresses how “crazy busy” he or she is. Why so busy? Are we all that ineffective with time management? Or do we simply like to stay “busy” to avoid doing the work that matters most?
We all have a lot going one with plentiful moving parts, so why state the obvious? And perhaps more disheartening, why is “busy” held in such high esteem? Are parents too “busy” to parent? Is that why activities and play dates are used as daycare? Is “busy” an excuse for not having time to read, think and learn? Is it justification for avoiding diving deep into our personal psyche? It seems to me that busy is nothing more than a crutch.
Let’s stop using “busy” as some sort of status symbol. Better yet, stop using it at all. We’re all on the go. Busy might just be the most overused word in American dialect. And it is incredibly subjective. Busy is an illusion, smoke and mirrors, a myth. I say we abolish “busy” from the English language.
With nothin’ but love, Michael W. Leach