Dear Friends,
It is common for us to respond to a casual “How are you?” from a friend or acquaintance with a sigh, a smile, and the words: “Fine. So busy!”
Why?
We are busy, many of us. That’s part of it.
But beyond just talking about it in passing (for which there are many reasons), why do we highlight and value being busy in our culture more broadly? Why do we think of being busy as an indication of someone being productive, successful, and valuable?
I argue that our utilitarian culture ties the value of human individuals to their busyness. Yet the costs of such valorization of frenetic activity are high.
Read my essay on busyness today at Public Discourse:
“Why Do We Valorize Busyness?”
Does this ring true to you?
What is your own relationship with busyness?
How do you use busyness, and how to you perceive it?
Have a great day!
I'm so interested that "good, but busy" rings as valorization to you often; I think when I tell people I'm busy I'm trying to be real (not just say "fine!") about the state of stress that I'm in without unloading all the messy details on them. I appreciate the way you nuance busyness and not busyness as potential goods, depending on the reasons for them. And I love the squirrel-watching anecdote 😊
Just yesterday an acquaintance asked, "How are you," and I reflexively replied, "Oh, busy." And I instantly cringed at my response. I don't like being defined by busyness but it's definitely the feeling that comes immediately to mind.
It's true what the previous commenter said: other responses like "fine," aren't great and often aren't true.
"Anxious and tired but doing my best to follow the will of God in my life" is clunky. ;-D
Anna Quindlen wrote a little book called "A Short Guide to a Happy Life." I keep it even though it's a little sappy because it's a nice reminder that leading a meaningful life is more important than a prestigious job. Like you, I set aside what could have been a more typically "successful" professional career in favor of family. It's good to be reminded of all reasons that was the right choice for me.