Wednesday, May 15, 2013

What is Busy.....to You?

I was thinking about the whole subject of being busy lately and remembered I had typed this blog and never published it.  Then I noticed the date on the blog was a year ago around this same time.  As I read it I was blown away and how it resinated with me still.  I hope you enjoy!

(May 4, 2012)

You see a friend on the street and it might sound something like this: 
You:  Hi Barb....how are you?

Barb:  I'm fine....how are you?

You:  Keeping busy

As you continue to walk down the sidewalk.


Many times when we see a friend and they actually stop to talk with you the conversation changes.....but not too far off:

You:  Hi Emily....how have you been?  

Emily:  Good.....how about you?  What have you been up to?

You:  Oh you know.....busy with the kids and church and work.  You know how it is.  Never a dull moment.

Emily:  Yep....same here.  Well it was good seeing you.

As you both walk away and on to your destination.


Now....I am not here to judge or to try to guess what busy is to you.  I can only go by how this affects my life but I hope that maybe someone out there can relate and maybe....just maybe...it will make them think about a few things.

Here is my question:  What does busy mean to you?  Seriously....have you ever really thought about how you use the word busy?  Or how many times you say it?

Here is the full definition at Dictionary.com http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/busy?s=t

The part that stands out to me is when I look at the definition:
- actively and attentively engaged in work or a pastime: busywith her work.
- not at leisure; otherwise engaged: He couldn't see any visitorsbecause he was busy.
- full of or characterized by activity: a busy life.

I can honestly say that sometimes I do not really think before I say that I am busy.  If you really think about it.....everyone is busy  in some form or fashion right?  

Some people say it because it's just an automatic response to a common question...."How are you?"
Maybe the person doesn't want to talk about how they are REALLY doing so this is the canned answer.
Maybe they are really feeling overwhelmed and need someone to step in and help them.
Maybe this is the excuse they use instead of just saying "no."

Maybe your  friend  talks all the time about how busy she is and yet you see her doing all sorts of fun things while you are busy running your kids to practice and piano lessons etc.  Does she seem busy to you?  

Or maybe someone asks what you have planned for the weekend and you say "it's going to be a busy one" and then you hear all the things your friend is going to be doing over the weekend and you think to yourself .....wow.....I actually have it pretty easy.  At least I will be able to be home on Saturday etc.  


I guess what I am trying to say is that each of us look at being busy differently.  We may think we are busy until we compare our schedule to someone else.  At that point we start to assess whether or not it is as busy or busier than the other person.  

Honestly.....we shouldn't try to compare.  Each of us is different.  God made us that way.
*We are all different ages, raised differently, from different parts of the world even.  
* Singles, Married w/ children or without, and those taking care of parents etc.
* We each handle our schedules differently.  
* We handle stress differently.  
* Some of us have our schedules organized and planned in advance 
* Others procrastinate and have to fly by the seat of our pants.  
*Some have little children.....some teenagers....and others have kids that have kids of their own.

With all of us being different is it even fair to compare?  Not really.  What may seem busy to some may be lounging to others.  I guess this has really caused me to think .

Here is another question:  Do you really want to come across as a person that is really busy.....maybe too busy for your friends?  Maybe even too busy to spend quality time with your kids?  Too busy to give your full attention to the task at hand?  Even too busy for time with God....which should be the priority above all?  These are some of the things that may come to mind when you primarily talk about how busy you are every time you see people.  

I think sometimes using the response...."keeping busy" is an excuse to not have to talk about what is really going on.  Always using lines about being busy seems to keep people at a distance.  So are you trying to protect yourself?   Do you have some things under the surface you don't want to talk about so you say "I've been busy" to ward off any prying?  What would happen if you maybe gave the person a more honest answer?

Take some time to think about YOUR answers to these questions.  Do you have time built into your schedule for the things that you SHOULD be doing or does your schedule fill up so quickly with other things that there is no room for what you are supposed to be doing? 

I have been working to let God control my schedule.  Is it hard?.....absolutely.  I like to "control" my schedule when I can and when I can't then I like to be able to make it sound like I am just soo busy that there is no controlling it and of course it is someone elses fault :).  This is going to take time.  I am finally at the point that I have time for most of the things that I SHOULD be doing but I don't always choose to do those things and then it is clearly my fault.   I am a work in progress as we all are but I know that because I am trying and moving in the right direction.....God is blessing the efforts.  I give Him all the glory as I know that I cannot do anything right without Him!

-Gina