Choices

There was a time in my life that being busy was fun.

When I was in my 20s, I thrived on hectic work schedules, full evenings, and crammed weekends. Somewhere during the past 10 years being busy turned into non-fun.

Some people I know love being busy ALL the time. They are in constant motion from the crack of dawn until late into the evening. Their kid's schedules are booked so full that they have to do homework and eat supper in the car.

I've made a choice in my life not to be too busy. My body will usually tell me when my life is overscheduled: my heart races when I'm sitting still, I get an annoying pain in my stomach, and the back of my neck aches. Worst of all my family reminds me that I'm a cranky pants.

I love getting home from work, nothing scheduled. It's a quiet time for homework, dinner prep, and sitting outside on the back porch of it's warm. Maybe I'm slowing as I age, but I don't feel the need to go-go-go all the time. I love to snuggle with my family on the couch. I like taking walks in the woods and listening to the crickets call and the leaves fall.

My to-do list will always be huge. I don't know anyone (except the very young and ill) without a huge to-do list, even retired people.

When we were in Mexico, we saw first-hand how the people there put relationships first. They cherished their families and friends, and always put them ahead of tasks. As I walk through this sea of busy-ness we live in, I challenge myself over and over. Is it worth it, to be so busy? Will the task I'm so worked up about matter in the long run. Or will I stop, and cherish the people around me?