Mary Graham

Trusty Chucks Blog

  • Home
  • ABOUT MARY
  • contact

stop telling me you’re busy

March 19, 2015 By mary 11 Comments

I find it insulting when people tell me they’re busy.

Like no one else is busy. Want to immediately alienate your audience? Tell them how busy you are.

One major writing hurdle I have to help my middle school students overcome is their need to start every essay by saying “I’m going to tell you about…” I don’t know where they learned to write like this, but I wish I could find that person and shake them very, very hard. “Never tell me you’re getting ready to tell me something!” I yell at them. “Just tell me something!”

stop telling me you're busy

I feel the same way about people that preface everything with how busy they are. Oh, you’re busy? Tell me what is that like? You’re the first person I’ve ever met who has been busy!

We are all busy. Whether you have zero kids or ten kids. Whether you are single or married. Whether you are going to school or working a job or staying home to raise little people. Whatever season you are in, you probably feel busy, but it’s not an excuse for anything. It’s actually just life. No one’s busy is any more or less important than another person’s busy. Unless you’re the president. And even then, I don’t have much sympathy for you, you’re the crazy that signed up for that horrible job.

I love the movement I’ve seen recently to stop glorifying busy. It was a wake-up call to me, and I am working hard to stop being busy just for the sake of busy; I want to slow down, and I’m making life decisions based on that desire. But I’m still busy, not overwhelmed or lacking any more sleep than normal (*looks longingly at her comfy bed*), but I’ve always got stuff to do. Like you, probably.

So can we stop starting emails, blog posts, and conversations with a mention of how busy we are? Can we all agree to do that? I think it’s implied, actually. You’re alive: living and breathing and busy. Now that it’s out of the way, you don’t need to keep letting people know about it, and we can all move on.

It will actually make you a little less busy if you stop telling people how busy you are. No one cares, we’re all busy. Find something more unique to complain about. Thanks.

Let's be friends!
Subscribe to get the Monday encouragement email + I'll send you a free PDF on 4 routines to do every day to feel more calm and focused.
Your information will *never* be shared or sold to a 3rd party.

Go ahead & share:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Google
  • Email

Related

Filed Under: just write

« Joe on his birthday
weekend read: The Mystery Writers of America Cookbook »

Comments

  1. Emily @ Perfection Isn't Happy says

    March 19, 2015 at 10:33 am

    Haha. I used to feel this way until I got pregnant. Now, being busy feels extra exhausting, so I talk about it. I guess I’m one of those annoying people now!

    Reply
    • mary says

      March 19, 2015 at 1:08 pm

      Ha, well, I still love you anyway! 😉 And pregnancy tired is its own special beast, I don’t miss that feeling at all.

      Reply
  2. Cherie Lowe says

    March 19, 2015 at 1:16 pm

    I was going to write a lengthy comment on this but I’m so sorry I’ve just been so busy.

    Reply
    • mary says

      March 23, 2015 at 3:16 pm

      I was hoping someone would make this comment and I’m glad it was you. Extra credit, Cherie Lowe.

      Reply
  3. Christie Felker says

    March 19, 2015 at 2:18 pm

    Yes. Yes. Yes.

    Reply
  4. Kimberly says

    March 19, 2015 at 5:19 pm

    Very well said, Mary! I had a similar conversation with someone today…and even touched on people who pretend by making themselves “look” busy so that people don’t ask them things. #annoying

    Reply
    • mary says

      March 23, 2015 at 3:14 pm

      Super annoying on a whole other level!

      Reply
  5. Jessie says

    March 22, 2015 at 10:32 pm

    This past summer I heard an older gentleman asking people for help with a community event and he commented that everyone was telling him how busy they were. He said he heard once, “If you want something done, ask a busy person.” It really stuck in my head. A lot of us use “busy” as an excuse to get out of something, but the more I have paid attention, the truly “busy” people never claim to be and are usually doing things for the well being of those around them.

    Reply
    • mary says

      March 23, 2015 at 3:15 pm

      That’s an interesting point. And probably true! Thanks for sharing.

      Reply
  6. Brandi Payne says

    March 30, 2015 at 3:41 pm

    I love you Mary Graham! That is all.

    Reply
    • mary says

      March 31, 2015 at 8:03 am

      Haha, thanks Brandi! 🙂

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Categories



Stitch Fix

SHARE OUR SITE

Trusty Chucks

Popular Posts

COPYRIGHT © 2014-2017 · TRUSTY CHUCKS · BUILT ON THE GENESIS FRAMEWORK BY ANCHORED DESIGN
33% of my writing goes directly to email subscribers and not the blog.
On Mondays, you get an email from me. On Wednesdays, we wear pink. Just kidding. I don't wear pink. Also, I've never seen that movie. But I do send out an email every Monday with 5 things for your week. It's worth your time. It's not gonna hurt. It might even help.
Your information will *never* be shared or sold to a 3rd party.
Let's be friends!
Subscribe to get the Monday encouragement email + I'll send you a free PDF on 4 routines to do every day to feel more calm and focused.
Your information will *never* be shared or sold to a 3rd party.
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.