The biggest excuse known to...

nobody@vox.com(Joel) — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 15:44:01 -0800

The biggest excuse known to man/woman-kind is, I do not have the time (or however you would like to phrase it).

Let’s really take a look at the many situations we use this term, as well as the fact that when we truly want to make time in our busy days we find a way to do so. Now the majority of us are in school, at a job, or taking care of more domestic matters on a day to day basis. These are the tasks that keep us busy and never give us the time we need to do the simple things in life. So often, in conversation with others, I speak too, whether in person or on line, this phrase comes into play. Being that I don’t use this term much at all, I have to question the reasoning or evidence of this so-called busyness. The response, after a few minutes, is normally one of schoolwork or job related activities. But if I dig deeper and bypass the fact with the person that we all have these common, tedious tasks to deal with each day, I find that there is more to this excuse. Regardless of what this inquisitive nature has come to find, lets make one simple conclusion with the following statement, in which I will quote myself,
Being busy is something we create, but when we really and truly want time for friends, family, loved ones, or random entertainment (1) we all somehow manage to change our busy label to something more convenient (2).
Where did this self-installed idea of being busy come from anyways? Just thinking over the years that I can recall growing up, I do remember my parents using this term quite often. Even today, they use the phrase in more situations than I can count. Maybe that is why I promised myself never to live by that state of mind, and to always live for the day. If you’re too busy to stop and listen, talk, or appreciate the world around you then why are you even here at all. If you died tomorrow, and had a chance to go back and do it all again, would you still use this excuse. Because I have proven, to some small extent, that this phrase really is an excuse
My suggestion, to those of you that find yourself relying on this phrase, is to form a new habit with your daily schedule. Start out simple, take baby steps even, and just stop at lunch to notice how nice the day is. Maybe talk to a friend you dont speak to very often, or a co-worker who you don’t know much about. If you do this, make sure this person is not negative or carrying the same horrible attitude about being busy that you are trying to rid yourself of. Our lives hold so much meaning and we become so involved with the lackluster of our jobs, pay, unhappiness about other things, or etc. that we end up losing any reason to exist. Push yourself to realize more and more each day that the trees, ocean, people, etc. around you all hold a story of their own. Discover a world around you that you have lost site of because your own life has made you comfortable with monotony.

1. Random entertainment meaning what ever you do to relieve stress, boredom or any other reason you may conjure to break out of your busy daily regime.
2. Convenient meaning that all of a sudden we now have time for that new person in our life, or that new pet we just fell in love with, or maybe for family, or it could be just getting drunk with friends, or any other activity that we have discovered to overcome our busy life.

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The biggest excuse known to...