“How are you doing?” “Busy as a three-legged cat covering his litter.” We wear how busy we are like it’s some precious badge of honor. From the minute we step out of bed in the morning until we crawl back into it at night, somehow society has convinced us that we have to be doing something with every minute of the day. Theres no such time a free time anymore, every second of the day you better be hustling. It’s crazy to think that most of us feel like if we quit moving for a couple minutes that the world will somehow stop turning on its axis. We tell our kids that they have to go out for every sport, be a part of every club and still keep caught up on their schoolwork and their chores at home. Then we wonder why teenagers are so stressed out all the time. Meanwhile we as parents work all week and then bring it home with us. We have forgotten that the email can wait until the morning, it’s perfectly fine to shut the phone off and be present with your family and you shouldn’t feel guilty for taking some time for yourself.
I’m a fan of history, always have been. It intrigues me to look back and see how we as a society have changed so much in just a short period of time. Somewhere along the line the family dynamic changed. We went from Dad being the head of the household and primary provider, to Dad being an ATM to fund all the activities that we seem to be involved in. We’ve gotten so busy that Mom has had to take a job, whether she wants to or not, just to keep up with the Jones’ and their busy lifestyle. I’m not saying that Mom should stay at home and never leave the kitchen, I know some ladies out there that can work circles around any man alive. I am saying that I think the busyness of our lives has gotten to the point where one salary doesn’t cover it all.
I wonder when telling someone no became a cardinal sin. No in and of itself is a complete sentence. It requires no explanation, no reason, and shouldn’t cause any guilt, but somehow it does. I think it is perfectly fine to say no to things that add to the craziness of life. Placing family time at church ahead of a sporting event shouldn’t make our kids feel like they are less of a team player. Telling someone no when they ask you to take on one more task is fine too. Many of us try to be like duct tape and be a solution to fix everything. Life doesn’t work that way.
In the farming and ranching world, there are certain things that need to be done every day. Cows need access to water; calves will be born anytime day or night. There is something that could be done every single day of the year and you could work around the clock and still find something to do when the sun comes up the next day. At some point in time you have to say enough is enough and make the time to live life freely without guilt for taking a period of rest. Take advantage of the slow seasons when they happen. All the material things that you work so hard to afford don’t amount to anything if you don’t take the time to enjoy them with family.
I suppose that’s the end of my ramblings for this time. Take a little time to rest and enjoy life while you are still on this side of the dirt. You can say no to some things and life won’t end if you don’t answer every phone call. Keep tabs on your side of the barbed wire and God bless.