Just Say NO to BUSY perception

I feel like I’ve had a life “ah-ha moment” these past several weeks.  It’s hit me pretty profoundly and I’ve been writing this post in my mind for a few weeks because I want to share my thoughts with you.  Just Say NO to Busy.  As it’s been said, Stop the Glorification of Busy. It goes back to a few weeks before we moved…

We’re pretty busy people.  I am mom to 4 kiddos – I blog full-time – I do family photography – I run my Paparazzi Accessories business – at that time we were moving and packing and all that – and currently we’re building our own home (like grab a hammer and get to work!).  We’re busy.  I found myself starting to say to people “well, we’re really busy people….”  And then it really started to sink in when people would talk to me and start with a preface, “I know you’re really busy, but could you…”  Like several people said that to start a conversation, as if they felt bad even starting the conversation that might take a couple minutes of my time –  and that’s part of my ah-ha moment:

—->  I don’t ever want to be so busy that I miss the opportunity to serve.  <—-

I don’t want people to feel like they can’t ask for a favor or help from me because they perceive me as busy.  I know that one of the purposes of this life is to be able to help and serve one another, busy or not.  I don’t want to miss opportunities to serve.  Service is the key to tons of things and balance in life.  I know I’m busy, but it’s my perception of it that will make the difference – if I am constantly telling myself and others how busy I am, I’ll believe it.  But even with tons of stuff going on, I believe busy is a perception and that I can always fit stuff in.

(find the full printable version of the bee quote at A Girl and A Glue Gun)

Ah-ha Moment: A week or so before we moved there was a great talk given in church – I scrambled for a paper to take notes (which I never do!) – it was like he was speaking to me directly.  It was about being busy  and also not really about cutting back, but more about making it all work.  And that’s what I’m aiming for – I know I have a lot going on, and I always will, so it’s all about perception and management.  He talked about how to BE MORE EFFECTIVE with the time you have .  My notes consisted of 4 things specific to my faith to help with being more effective with my time, like how daily scripture study is a source of ENERGY and how I need to find more meaning and intensity in my spiritual endeavors.   A few weeks later in a class at church I again took notes: “in order to have happiness you have to serve”

So as I had this topic of perception of busyness (my perception of myself and other’s perceptions that they gained from my actions) and the topic of service, things kept popping up in my feeds that I knew were put there for me!  Images on Instagram.  Blog posts.  Ashley of Lil Boo Blue wrote an amazing post that included this quote from Mitch Albom: So many people walk around with a meaningless life. They seem half-asleep, even when they’re busy doing things they think are important. This is because they’re chasing the wrong things. The way you get meaning into your life is to devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning.
― Mitch Albom, Tuesdays with Morrie

 

I don’t know where I’m going with all of this, but I knew I wanted to put it out there.  I try to post a little about faith on the first Sunday of each month, and this seemed appropriate.  We are all busy.  We know it.  But it doesn’t have to define who we are – we can aim to be defined by our service to our family and to others.  I don’t ever want to be so busy that I miss the opportunity to serve.  I think it starts with a mindset shift about being busy, and I’m ready for that shift –  everything still needs done, but I can be busy without being that busy person.