Really Busy

Since I've been home from mancation, I've taken special note of time. Both the value and perception. It's probably because much of my time is spent alone and I feel like I have an endless supply of “free time” to try to entertain myself. Don’t get me wrong, I try to add structure to my life, like “wake up” or “workout” or “get job,” but let’s be honest, those are mostly guidelines rather than rules, and I'm not very good at following rules. Not that I want to break them or don’t respect them, I just get distracted or lose track of what the rules were when I started following them.

Now that I'm home I have been reminded of the number one rule in America.

The Rule: Everyone, at all times, must be really busy.

While scampering around the wilds of South America I almost forgot this rule. When I was re-released back into my natural habitat, the rule started coming back to me in small installments. For example, I would call a friend to get back in touch. I wanted to meet up for lunch or a beer but would usually hear, "Love to, but I am really busy. " The first couple of times I just shrugged it off. But after a few more times I stared to wonder if everyone except me is really that busy, and just what the heck is everyone doing?

I decided to set up social experiments by venturing out into the world at different times each day. It appears that there are always people like me out and about. For example, no matter what time I went to the gym I would see the same guys. Are they really busy looking at all their muscles in the mirror? Or are they just steroid dealers and therefore actually working? (If the latter, ah hello, I am the skinniest guy there…I go every day… I'm probably in your target market.) Or how about the grocery store: I make special note not to go during lunch hours. Still, I see people in my demographic shopping around. Are they really busy? Or are they like me and not so busy? Now I'm confused.

The easier thing to do, though, is to try to appear busy to fit in. A friend of mine wanted to get together during the day. My strategy was to pause when asked if we can get together mid-morning. I didn’t want to jump on the opportunity with a mix of desperation and excitement and scare him off. “Yeah hmmmm. I think we can swing that. How about 10?” I squeezed him in between coffee and a run in my made-up busy schedule.

This charade worked for a while, up until a few days ago. I was talking to a friend about a possible job opportunity. I always go to this friend for advice in all parts of life so I thought I would bounce some job ideas off him.

Me: "I sent my resume to ABC Company for XYZ position."
Friend: "Did you ask [mutual friend] who works there for a recommendation?"
Me: "More or less. I told him that I sent in my resume and wanted to catch up for a beer."
Friend: "Noah. Nobody has time for a beer. Nobody has time for anything. If you want a favor you need to be straight forward with them. Tell them to give you a recommendation and leave it at that."

That sucks. Why don’t you just tell me there is no Santa Clause?

I wanted to scream, “ It's a BEER! It'll probably take an HOUR! The strange irony is we might enjoy it. And if he didn't enjoy it then I probably miscalculated our relationship and his recommendation probably won’t help anyway!” But I didn’t. I just told him I had to run. I was late for being busy.