Real Talk: The Glorification of Busy

If you follow me on Instagram, you would have seen that I expressed my frustration with this new trend of confusing busy with successful.  Judging by the reaction I received from everyone, it turns out that I'm not the only person who is bothered by this so let's talk about it: the glorification of busy.

I honestly don't know exactly when it happened, when we stopped relying on actual results to show our accomplishments and instead did everything in our power to give the air of a successful person.  A typical conversation now has a intro of "How are you?  I'm so busy." Add a reply of "Oh, I know what you mean.  I'm SO busy" and you've got a figurative pissing match between two people who are using the word interchangeably with successful.  Forget actual results.

Now I'm not completely innocent in the matter.  Faced with a table of people who are complaining/bragging about work commitments, the number of emails they need to respond to, etc. I'm definitely apt to participate.  If I'm not voicing all of the things that I have as commitments, I must not have any commitments at all and therefore am a failure right? Wrong.

We're all busy.  Every single one of us. Sometimes I feel so overwhelmed, and I stop to think about my friends who are mothers - now that's busy.  But you know the funny thing is that they don't seem to indulge in the same glorification of busy, perhaps because their successes are much more personal and intimate and mean so much more than a contract landed or a new handbag purchase.  Another round of applause needs to go to those who humbly work smarter, not harder and instead of bragging about their busy schedules they let their results be their noise.  I want to be that person.

As I said in my Instagram, I'm officially retiring from this contest of egos and when someone asks me how I'm doing, how everything is going in my life I'm simply going to respond with "happy."  Does that make me any less successful?  I'll just have to quietly let my results speak for themselves.

Sweater - Joe Fresh, Leggings - Aritzia Daria

A few weekends ago, I stopped to have a coffee and catch-up with Cynthia of Pinch of Chic.  She was the one who took these lovely photos, and it was so nice to chat with like-minded people.  I've always admired her because she truly does have a lot going on, but never indulges in boasting about her schedule.  Instead we were able to grab matcha lattes, chat about handbag wish lists and irritate the patrons of Roosters Coffee House with our photo taking.  Now that's a good time!

What do you guys think?  Are we all too busy for our own goods, or maybe I'm just being sensitive?  Let me know, I would love to hear your thoughts!

xo Joëlle

Photos by Cynthia Nguyen

Share: