Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Lodestar

(2,388 posts)
Sun Nov 9, 2014, 05:48 AM Nov 2014

The Disease of Being Busy

..."we are human beings, not human doings".

The Disease of Being Busy

I saw a dear friend a few days ago. I stopped by to ask her how she was doing, how her family was. She looked up, voice lowered, and just whimpered: “I’m so busy… I am so busy… have so much going on.”

Almost immediately after, I ran into another friend and asked him how he was. Again, same tone, same response: “I’m just so busy… got so much to do.”

The tone was exacerbated, tired, even overwhelmed.

And it’s not just adults. When we moved to North Carolina about ten years ago, we were thrilled to be moving to a city with a great school system. We found a diverse neighborhood, filled with families. Everything felt good, felt right.

After we settled in, we went to one of the friendly neighbors, asking if their daughter and our daughter could get together and play. The mother, a really lovely person, reached for her phone and pulled out the calendar function. She scrolled… and scrolled… and scrolled. She finally said: “She has a 45-minute opening two and half weeks from now. The rest of the time it’s gymnastics, piano, and voice lessons. She’s just…. so busy.”

Horribly destructive habits start early, really early.

How did we end up living like this? Why do we do this to ourselves? Why do we do this to our children? When did we forget that we are human beings, not human doings?

MORE
http://www.onbeing.org/blog/the-disease-of-being-busy/7023

1 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
The Disease of Being Busy (Original Post) Lodestar Nov 2014 OP
There's no such thing as down time any more! Phentex Nov 2014 #1

Phentex

(16,521 posts)
1. There's no such thing as down time any more!
Sun Nov 16, 2014, 10:40 AM
Nov 2014

Some people can do this running from one thing to the next, eating fast food in the car, getting home and having kids do homework and then go to bed. I never could do it - for my own sanity. Sure, there are times when our lives are busy and it can't be helped. We are ALL busy! But I think many people bring this lifestyle on themselves to fill some sort of void elsewhere.

Latest Discussions»Culture Forums»Parenting»The Disease of Being Busy