Redefining Busy

You’re always busy.

It’s the one phrase I’ve heard on repeat this year.

In the beginning, it was a badge of pride I wore. Yes, I was busy. I had things to do, people to see and places to be. However, as time passed, I cringed every time someone said those words to me.

You see, in the beginning, I had just started a new venture. It was an exciting time for my circle and I. Great things were going to happen, money was going to be made, and fame was on the horizon. ‘Busy’ at that time was excusable because it wouldn’t be long before we could all relax on the beach without a care on the world. But, oh that changed.

In the end, ‘busy’ became a dirty label. It caused division, miscommunication and resentment. The great things came in bursts, the money trickled in and the fame reached local status. There wouldn’t be any relaxing on the beach for a while. In fact, there were too many cares on our shoulders.

All because of one little word – busy.

Now, more than ever, society champions busy. We like to see what people are doing and how they live their lives even in the most private of moments, and at the most random times of the day. We have those who appear busy and those who are trapped in busy. Some say they are for attention while others have never known anything else. Both extremes are prevalent today and with that ‘busy’ has acquired a bitter taste.

But the truth is that being busy is nothing more than being actively engaged in something, whatever that may be. It could be conversing with someone, reading a book, interacting on social media, planning an event or running a business. It just means that you are fully present with a predetermined or impromptu task. Not so bad right?

There’s no need to flaunt it because being involved in something does not define success, and there’s no need to be enveloped by it because it is not the key to success.

So with that said, can we redefine our interpretation of busy and get back to the original? I think the simple version is better. Don’t you agree?