tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1701465038062786253.post9087145243541573706..comments2024-03-28T02:25:56.451-07:00Comments on The Fictator: The Closer I AmKatharine Coldironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10710500266239699918noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1701465038062786253.post-74437773956689755402012-07-06T14:06:41.012-07:002012-07-06T14:06:41.012-07:00I definitely think you're right about today, a...I definitely think you're right about today, and hopefully this new position will be mostly a positive change. But I do feel that urge to be busy and *seem* busy, for no real reason except that it's valued in our culture, and I think it's really annoying. Here's an example: someone I know who works with computers has told me that there are many times during the day when he has to wait for feedback from others before he can continue what he's working on, but when he's in the office he feels like he has to look like he's working even though it's an understood fact that these moments happen. It's just ridiculous!<br /><br />I definitely know people who talk about being "too busy" with a vomit-worthy amount of smugness. The thing with my friend is that it translates into a conception in her mind that her life is more important than others' and they should therefore work around her schedule, etc. I think this is an important aspect of it, like with Bush clearing the brush...if I'm busy then I must be doing something important, and therefore *I* must be important...Gross.Denisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10877825352612931131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1701465038062786253.post-77285997506279046942012-07-06T10:58:12.293-07:002012-07-06T10:58:12.293-07:00I'm not sure that the busy trap applies to you...I'm not sure that the busy trap applies to your situation of today. You don't change jobs every week, nor do you get the job for which you've been hoping for years on end every weekend. Getting ready for something specific and one-time-only with work is a whole different animal than staying at the office until 8 PM every night of the week, every week of the year, year in and year out. <br /><br />If you're still setting aside beautiful beach house weekends after two years at this job, then it might be time to examine the busy problem. Don't worry, I don't see that happening to you. <br /><br />You're so right, though, it's hard to fight against culture. I wish I'd emphasized that one more time at the end of this post, that merely considering more leisure as a legitimate option for how to live your life is majorly subversive and difficult in this culture. <br /><br />And I'm really sorry about your friend. Maybe you could forward her the NYT op-ed. But she'd probably be too busy to read it.Katharine Coldironhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10710500266239699918noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1701465038062786253.post-57595190353765395012012-07-06T07:06:27.697-07:002012-07-06T07:06:27.697-07:00I think about the busyness issue a lot, and I keep...I think about the busyness issue a lot, and I keep being confronted by issues like what I'm facing today. I have been invited to my sister's in-laws' beach house, but I need time to get ready for my new job that starts on Monday. This job is a big deal and I'm excited about it, partly because of the money and health benefits (I haven't been to a dentist in like 3 years...), and also because it's a great career opportunity with a lot of potential; however, I don't want to be one of those people who works all the time and misses out on get togethers because of work, etc. I think this is just one day, one perfectly gorgeous sunny day, that I have to let work win, but I hope to myself that it isn't more than that. It's really hard to fight against culture. As we speak I think I'm losing an old friend to this, because she's become so consumed by the busyness/business of her life that she assumes that other people are at her beck and call. It makes me sad.Denisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10877825352612931131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1701465038062786253.post-43181468192431423832012-07-05T17:11:40.225-07:002012-07-05T17:11:40.225-07:00Well, it works on me. Just the other 5,999,999,99...Well, it works on me. Just the other 5,999,999,999 people to go!Mattnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1701465038062786253.post-2494458019730801852012-07-05T15:47:45.149-07:002012-07-05T15:47:45.149-07:00I'm starting to believe so, but I'm still ...I'm starting to believe so, but I'm still a long damn way from turning the world on with my smile.Katharine Coldironhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10710500266239699918noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1701465038062786253.post-45864635415690192052012-07-05T15:31:41.159-07:002012-07-05T15:31:41.159-07:00You mean, you can take a nothing day and suddenly ...You mean, you can take a nothing day and suddenly make it all seem worthwhile? You're gonna make it after all!Bret Haysnoreply@blogger.com