1. 147 / Are You Busy?
Last week, I was checking e-mails and FB messages in the morning after breakfast. This has
been my routine for many years. I would then leave for my audit assignments. Now I have
retired and hence spend little more time on PC for surfing, writing new articles for my
website, Blog, uploading new POSTS on my FB Wall etc.
Suddenly telephone bell rang. Telephone instrument is on my computer trolley and hence I
picked up the phone. One of my relative was on the line and was in a mood to chit chat with
apparently no firm issue for talking. Obviously, I was not actively participating in a detailed
conversation. I was talking & simultaneously checking my email. He probably realized my
approach.
He just enquired as to whether I am busy? I instantly said Yes, I am busy. He was surprised
with my prompt reply. He immediately raised doubt that how I can be busy as I have retired
from Profession. I retaliated by saying so what? I am busy on FB with some interesting
POSTS. (He does not have account on Facebook) He just wound up the discussion. His
remark hurt me mainly because he was aware that I engage myself in multi faceted activities.
I carried my hobbies, learned alternate therapies, astrology, did social work, and wrote few
books and many articles along with my Profession. Now since I have taken retirement from
the Profession, I am able to devote more time for my hobbies and other activities. Even
looking after personal finance keeps me busy substantially.
As usual my mind got the food for thought. When one can call himself busy? Is it that only
when one is engaged in an activity of earning money, he can be called busy? So any person
who does not work (i.e. doing a job, engaged in business or Profession, occupation etc) can
not be busy. Then what about your wife or mother who is housewives and carries the entire
burden of household chores and family responsibilities? Are they wasting time? We can’t
call them busy because they are not earning. Why some terms are interpreted in micro way in
the society?
In fact since birth to death, we carry many activities involuntarily. The term busy is basically
relative term. A small kid is always busy in playing, running and trying to learn new things
2. 2
by observation. School going child remains busy with studies and playing. College going
son-daughter remains busy with coaching class, college, extra-curricular activities, friends,
outings etc. Once you complete the education, you get busy with office work or your own
business – Profession. When you marry, your busy schedule gets further tightened up with
family responsibilities, family protocols etc. In short this cycle of being busy continues till
old age. Then again you may get busy with exercise prescribed by doctors, taking timely
medicines, developing new activities for passing time such as going to temple, laughter club,
evening walk etc. If you are techno friendly, then you get further busy with internet surfing,
facebook etc. In other words, each person has his own priorities which obviously keep
changing with his age. Even if somebody is relaxing after doing his day to day chores, he can
not be called wasting time. He is busy in relaxation. The same rule would hold good for
reading, evening walk, watching TV etc. It is the person himself who can decide as to
whether he is busy or not.
Friends, what you feel on this episode? You are busy reading this article. Is it not? ☺
