Para-paraan Lang (Making Time)

The phrase, “I'm busy.” is probably my greatest pet peeve of all! It's an excuse—at best—to shy away from actually working or getting things done. I would define the word as; being engaged in mindless and purposeless preoccupations.

One can say ants are busy; bees are busy; vultures are busy devouring a carcass of a dead animal. The act of being busy does not necessarily entail a favorable outcome. Ants, bees and other animals keep themselves busy because they are programmed to do so. In human terms; yakking on the phone or sending out senseless text messages, listening to an iPod, walking aimlessly, people-watching, scratching an itch or doing most anything regardless of common good is indeed, “being busy.”


We've seem to have forgotten how a “busy tone” on the telephone sounds like—an endless buzzing noise.


Telling someone, “I'm busy” can be the most impolite thing if not, downright insulting! Unless you're caught up in a life-and-death situation which demands utmost focus, there's really no excuse to dismiss anyone unless you really mean to.


At no point in human history has man been at his most isolated. Digital technology, though very much helpful in daily existence has also become man's modern-day manacles. The same gadgets and devices designed to make life convenient also dilute man's very existence and purpose.


How difficult is it to ignore a text message, instant message or email by saying “I'm busy” or “I was busy.”? How busy can one get? It takes less than a minute to give a polite reply. What good then is being online on Skype, YM or even Facebook? Why bother setting up an email account or get a cellular phone?


I could've easily put off the rendezvous and told this girl I was “too busy” and life would have been less complicated. I'm glad I took a gamble and shuffled tin just to free up a few hours off my schedule. Despite a filled calendar, I managed to take the kids to lunch, run over to Novaliches to check on the episode I was airing, swung back to Makati to have coffee with a new acquaintance, took her off to San Andres with me for a reunion party then to Malate for a sobering cup of coffee and blueberry cheesecake. What I thought would be a simple getting-to-know-you began at around 6PM and ended at 3AM the next day!


I could've missed out on one of the greatest dates I've ever had!


The busiest people have the most time to spare. I absolutely admire those who keep schedules yet are spontaneous enough to grab a coffee or a quick beer. I'm not talking exclusively about the industry I'm in. Anyone who wants to serve a company well should practice good time management.


And politeness is a basic principle we should have learned even before we were sent to school!


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