Let’s Talk About It… When Did Being Busy Become Something to Be Proud Of?

Let’s Talk About It… When Did We Get So Busy?

I was thinking about this the other day, and the more I thought about it, the more I realized how strange it is that being busy all the time has somehow become normal.

Think about it. Someone asks, “How have you been?” and one of the first things we say is, “Busy.”

And most of the time, we really are.

There’s work, family, bills, appointments, errands, things around the house, people who need us, messages we haven’t answered, and a list in our heads that never really seems to end. Even when we finally get a chance to sit down, our minds are usually still going.

I know mine is.

I can sit down with every intention of relaxing, and five minutes later I’m thinking about something I forgot to do or something I should probably get up and take care of.

But here’s what I’ve been wondering lately…

What are we so afraid will happen if we slow down?

Why does resting sometimes make us feel guilty? Why do we feel like we always have to be accomplishing something to make the day worthwhile?

And maybe an even harder question…

What are we missing because we’re always thinking about what comes next?

Maybe it’s a conversation with someone we love. Maybe it’s sitting outside and noticing how beautiful the evening is. Maybe it’s laughing a little longer with our family instead of getting up to take care of the next thing.

Or maybe it’s simply being quiet enough to hear God.

That part really made me think.

We ask God for guidance. We pray for peace. We ask Him to show us what direction to take, help us with something we’re struggling with, or give us an answer we desperately need.

But then we get up and rush right back into the noise.

Sometimes I wonder if God is saying, “Be still. You don’t have to figure everything out right now.”

Maybe slowing down isn’t laziness. Maybe rest has a purpose too.

I don’t want to spend so much time trying to keep up with life that one day I look back and realize I forgot to actually live it.

I want to drink my coffee while it’s still hot. Sit outside a little longer. Take the trip when I can. Laugh with the people I love. Pray without rushing through it. Enjoy an afternoon without feeling like I have to earn the right to rest.

Because maybe a full life isn’t measured by how much we managed to get done.

Maybe sometimes it’s measured by how present we were while we were living it.

So I’m curious…

Are you actually able to slow down and enjoy the moment, or does your mind immediately start reminding you of everything you should be doing? And when you do slow down, do you feel peaceful…or guilty? 🤍