Too Busy for Your Own Good?

I love being busy.

Having a lot of things going on.

There are so many things I like to do!

Read. Write. Play tennis. Do yoga. Bike. Hike. Hang with friends. I love music, theater, and the arts. And my mother and father gave me an insatiable appetite for learning.

I also tend to give 110 percent of myself to my work—always raising the bar by creating new products, better systems, and aiming to have greater impact.

But my BFF stopped me in my tracks recently when she said about my upcoming schedule: “You’ve always been a workaholic.” 

I half-nodded. 

I knew she was telling the truth. 

But then I also pushed back.

“I’m not sure that’s what I would call it,” I said. 

“I don’t mean you are an addict,” she said.

“It’s not that,” I said. Workaholic just didn’t feel like the right word.

“I always say that you are the busiest person I know!” she declared.

And with that comment, I figured out the word.

I’m a busy-aholic.

I don’t set out to be busy, but I have a lot of things that consume my time. And when I am honest with myself, I recognize that I love having a lot going on.

And to be fair, I suppose it’s possible I am running from myself.

Sometimes, when people never stop, it’s because they can’t be in a quiet room with themselves. 

It makes me think of that quote from Blaise Pascal in 1670: “All of humanity’s problems stem from man’s inability to sit quietly in a room alone.”

Not just men though—this can impact anyone. And it’s probably gotten worse as the online world has gotten louder.

To find some quiet recently, I spent some time at Harbour Island in the Bahamas. Friends had rented a house for two weeks and asked my partner and I to join them for a part of it. 

How could we say no? 

Our friends came from Florida in their fishing boat—so of course we spent time out on the ocean. We went trolling and deep-drop fishing, neither of which I had ever done. (In fact, I can count all of my days fishing on one hand.)

I had lots of questions.

What’s the difference between this rod and that one? Why are some fish eyes so bulged out? What are outriggers for? What kind of bait is that?

Fishing is not my sport. I am still traumatized from taking First Aid as a kid and seeing a picture of a fishing hook caught in someone’s hand. I also did not want to get near any fish still flopping around—knowing it was still alive and that we were about to abruptly end all that. 

So, fishing was interesting—but not very peaceful for me.

But I found another area of quiet in the Bahamas. I did get away from my busy-ness. And that was hanging with the green sea turtles that came to visit us every day off our dock.

They were out there every morning and late afternoon—floating and deliberately munching on sea grass at the water’s edge. I loved watching them—they are so graceful as they move through the water.  And sea turtles can live to be 80 to 100 years old!

Turtles tend to always slow one down. 

In animal medicine, sea turtles represent ancient wisdom and inner guidance. They teach us about navigation, to trust our paths and find our way “home” the best way we can. Sea turtles suggest following our inner compass and taking the long view on life’s journey. 

They teach us about persistence and steady progress over speed (remember the turtle and the hare?). 

But sea turtles are not just of the land—they are of the water, too, and can swim remarkably fast when running from a predator. They can do short bursts up to 15 mph, three or four times faster than any human can swim. (We saw this as a neighborhood kid jumped off the dock near one!)

While I was watching the turtles, I started thinking maybe I’m misguided in thinking the secret is in swimming harder or faster. Or thinking that it's good to be busy or productive.

Maybe life is more about slowing down. 

About remembering that we already carry everything we need within us.

That it’s more about airtime than it is about a packed schedule.

It was fun watching the turtles find their breath. They gracefully would amble their way to the surface, pop their head out of the water for a moment, and take in a quiet gulp. Maybe put their head under the water and then take a second one. And then dive back down again. 

This sea turtle energy can inspire powerful reflection. Things like:

• How might slowing down actually help me reach my goals faster?

• What season of life am I in right now, and what does this season require of me?

• What am I trying to force right now that would benefit from a longer view?

I think the next time life I aim to add something to my day, my week, or my life, I’m going to remind myself of the sea turtle. 

The next time I feel overwhelmed by all I am trying to do, rather than add a single thing more to an already full plate, instead, I will pause.

I will come to the surface.

I will take one more breath.

And see what is there for me in that moment.

Have a comment? Please share on social media or contact Kellie here.