It’s a hectic time of year. Everyone is busy. It’s easy to get overwhelmed.
Let’s see if we can get back to the bear, ahem, bare necessities and just the right amount of whelmed behind door number 14.
December 14, 2024
Walk up to someone today and ask them how they are. I guarantee they’ll tell you, in some manner, that they’re busy. “I’ve been wicked busy” is a staple in these parts. Busy is a badge of honor. No one will judge you harshly for being industrious. Tell people you’ve been lazing around all day, and you don’t get that same understanding nod.
There are so many things to do and enjoy at this time of year that our calendars fill up quickly. Saying, “I’d love to!” soon turns to “Sorry, I’m busy.” The happy anticipation of attending a party, recital, or play can, if we’re not careful, morph into obligation by the sheer volume of events we commit to.
Do we even realize that we’re the authors of our relentlessly busy lives? We’re not protagonists in a story written by another’s hand, although it feels like that sometimes. Life is a string of individual choices. Even when the circumstances are not of our choosing, our response to them is. Being busy is an occupation, not an emotion. If we respond to a query about how we’re feeling with what we’re doing, it’s time to reassess the context in which we live.
What is the prescription for a balanced schedule at this time of year? I think it’s simple. Accept the party invitations, attend the recitals, get the tickets for the play, and enjoy each event in the moment for the magic it brings to your life and those you share it with. That way, you’re more than busy, you’re happy.
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