Busy with Purpose: Redefining What It Means to Be Busy

It’s been 99 days since my last post. If you didn’t catch the title and were wondering why it’s been so long... well, the answer is simple: I’ve been busy.

As a Division 1 athlete, I can’t recall a time when I wasn’t busy. Honestly, having empty space on my calendar feels like a rarity. In fact, without my meticulous color-coded system, I’m certain the events of any given day would blur together in one overwhelming rush.

But don’t worry—this isn’t a post to gripe about the demanding schedule of an athlete. I understand there are millions of people out there with far greater challenges, more complex demands, and tighter time constraints than I could ever face. Being busy is not a unique struggle in today’s world. After all, anyone who’s ever driven on a crowded highway knows just how many people are racing toward something.

So, before you roll your eyes, know this: I’m not here to complain about my life or the struggles that come with it. Instead, I’m reflecting on the different kinds of “busy” I’ve experienced and the profound impact each has had on me.

Throughout my life, I’ve always had a packed schedule. Whether it was the family calendar hanging on the fridge, my planner in high school, or my Google calendar now, there’s always something demanding my attention. But it wasn’t until this past summer, as I took classes at Lehigh, traveled abroad, and spent quality time with my family, that I began to discern the two distinct kinds of busy—and the powerful effects each type has on my life.

The first kind of busy is the one I’ve found myself caught in most often. It’s the busy that breeds stress, wrinkles, and restless nights. It’s the kind that makes us irritable and impatient, the type that leads to mistakes because we’re rushing through life. It’s a busy that breeds self-doubt and makes us feel like we’re spinning our wheels, constantly asking, “Am I on the right path?” I call this being busy because of life.

The second type of busy is the one I’ve only recently begun to truly understand. It’s the busy that leaves us energized, motivated, and clear-headed. It’s the kind that fills us with purpose and excitement when we wake up in the morning. It provides a sense of inner peace, helping us feel grounded in our choices and confident about the path we’re on. This is being busy with life.

Recognizing the differences between these two types of busy was the easy part. When I’m busy because of life, I’m overwhelmed and stressed. When I’m busy with life, I’m driven and at peace. The real challenge is understanding what causes me to fall into one category or the other—and how I can take control of the outcome.

For me, I feel busy because of life when I lose control over my schedule. When I let my commitments dictate my time and my life feels like it’s being led by others, I begin to feel helpless. It’s easy to fall into the trap of blaming external circumstances, telling myself, “I’m not where I want to be because I don’t have time.” It becomes too easy to drift through the demands of life and feel as though none of my choices are truly mine. This is where frustration and detachment creep in—when I feel as though I’m not the one steering the ship.

On the other hand, being busy with life happens when I reclaim ownership over my time. It’s about remembering that, even within the chaos of classes, practices, and meetings, I still have the power to choose how I engage with each moment. I remind myself that where I am today is a result of the decisions I’ve made. I chose to pursue this journey. So, while I might complain about the grind of practice or the difficulty of my classes, I also remember that each challenge is part of a process that’s helping me grow. I am investing in my future, and that’s something I’ve chosen.

Ultimately, the difference between these two types of busy isn’t in the tasks themselves but in the mindset we bring to them. Being busy because of life stems from a loss of perspective and gratitude. It’s when we forget the choices we’ve made, and it feels like life is happening to us. But being busy with life happens when we choose to be present and embrace each challenge as part of my growth. It’s about seeing every moment as an opportunity to learn and evolve, to find meaning in the daily grind.

Now, I know this all might sound a little cliché, and I’m certainly not suggesting it’s easy. The world often throws one event after another at us, demanding our attention and asking us to keep up. But when our obligations start to feel like a never-ending list of tasks that aren’t really our choice, perhaps the real power lies in how we approach them. We can choose to let life carry us along, or we can choose to take ownership and fully engage with every moment. Neither choice is simple, but both are ours to make.

This post is my reflection on my own journey and my personal experiences. I’m mindful of how privileged I am to have choices and opportunities that many people do not. Not everyone has the luxury of deciding their path, and for some, the circumstances of life are much harder to navigate. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s this: while we may not have control over everything that happens to us, we always have control over how we respond. And in that response, we shape our own story.

GOOD VIBES ONLYYYY, 

 -Kenzie