I know that I have busted on people's concept of busyness in the past. I made a decision long ago to not look at "busy" times as busy because the word "busy" just has too many negative connotations. I have chosen to look at those times as "full". Fullness is a good word. For instance, after dinner last night, I had a sense of fullness that was very satisfying. There had certainly been fullness in the hours after work when I was working diligently to prepare the food that now filled my tummy and gave me this feeling of satisfaction. There was fullness in our living room as the whole family (minus one) was packed in the living room to celebrate my son-in-laws 30th birthday. Toys were everywhere. My grandson was using up every space that wasn't occupied by something else to run and play. The room was full of the sounds of the basketball game (go Duke!), mini conversations, the dog barking, and the clicking of the computer keys as I sat and researched for an article I'm writing. When something is full, we feel the need to stuff it fuller. I stuff the garbage bags as full as possible before taking them to the can. When I go to the thrift store on "Fill a bag for $5.00 day), I stuff it as full as I can get it. When I go to the orchard and they give me a 1/2 bushel bag to fill, I stuff that bag with as many apples as possible until it's completely full!
Granted, since I started working full time, there are many days when my life seems to be a little overstuffed. I'm honestly still making the adjustment. I'm adjusting what I do, how often I do it, and how I do it. It's been a challenge for this old dog because I'm having to learn some new tricks and I was comfortable with the old ones!
I look around me and I see others whose lives are busy. They feel pushed, pressured, frantic, like they live in chaos and they're not happy. That is why I choose fullness instead. Sure, my fullness takes up all my spare time and sometimes beyond, but my life is full of things I can view as blessings instead of time eaters.
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