The Glorification of Busy

What is the objective of being busy anyway?  I was stopped dead in my tracks as I sat here at my computer mid-day.  I was in the process of scouring the Waterloo Central Railway site peeking at the upcoming events where the steam locomotive will be making an appearance.  I have made sporadic appearances at the restoration shop in St. Jacobs and helped out by getting my hands dirty. I have many memories of climbing on top of Engine No. 9 and working to get the throttle set in the right position on the boiler.  There is something gratifying about working with other like-minded volunteers (mostly retirees, along with a couple high school students) who have become friends of mine in the process.  They do not think twice about the fact that this yoga instructor often disappears for weeks at a time to take yet another workshop or teach yet another class.  They welcome me back each time. 

The sponsor for one of the events had a link to his report on the Steel Rails event and I decided to see if I could check it out.  This is when I encountered the quote "Stop the glorification of busy."

Hmm... Could this be a challenge of sorts?  As I thought of this, I started drawing conclusions and hypothesis to support all of this.  One of the things that stood out in my mind is this - As humans, we always have to be 'busy'.  Could busy be a form of hiding?  Could it be a way of taking yourself out of something that needs to be done? A form of procrastination?  Who knows?!  

I myself can recall many times when I have to say I'm busy to avoid doing something that is not necessary, or that I did not want to do in the first place.  Looking at this quote, I can see that there are areas in my life where I glorify being busy for the sake of being busy - as a way to hide, and as an out.  With this new awareness, I now intend to call myself out when I say "I'm busy".  "Why?" will be the biggest question I have on my mind.  Without being too analytical, I feel as if I have to presence myself to the current situation in order to come to terms with what is actually happening.  With my new awareness of my exit strategy, I can now build on this awareness and mindfully analyze what is happening and how it is affecting my way of being.

So... How can you stop the "glorification of busy" and face what you want to run from? Just remain present to you, be with what is, and allow yourself to feel.  Empty the mind.  A busy mind is counter-productive to being present and standing in front of your way of being.

Think about how you take yourself out with the "busy" story and chatter.  The results of this self-inquiry will amaze you.