Busy Having Fun

                           Busy Having Fun  …by Tommy Hale

We rarely put the words “busy” and “fun” side by side. “Busy” sounds like a warning label—full attention required, no breaks allowed. “Fun,” on the other hand, strolls in wearing a grin, asking very little of us except a willingness to enjoy the moment.

Somewhere along the way, we got the balance a little off: too busy, not enough fun.

I understand the deal. Life expects us to show up, work hard, and earn our keep. From the day we leave school until the day we retire, we’re taught to stay occupied and productive. Lean too far toward fun, and eventually somebody will label you shiftless, a loafer, or—if they’re feeling especially generous—a drifter with potential.

That was never my lane.

From the time I was about nine years old—when I realized I could learn something new every day—I’ve been in motion. At 85, I’m still at it, not because I have to, but because I want to. My wife, however, has taken this concept to Olympic levels. If I’m busy, she’s busy times four. I don’t even try to keep up anymore; I schedule rest breaks just watching her.

Back in my 50s, I came up with a saying: “Laziness is difficult to overcome.” I believed it, too. My younger brother, Jerry, had what I thought was a free pass in childhood. While I was doing chores, he was taking it easy—thanks to a heart murmur that made our parents cautious. Turns out, he grew into a hardworking adult anyway, so much for my theory. Life has a way of humbling our best conclusions.

Over the years, I’ve seen both sides. Some folks never quite get moving and struggle. Others work hard their entire lives and still face hardships they didn’t earn or deserve. Those are the people who remind us that compassion matters more than judgment—and that fun isn’t always dispersed.

Here I sit—twenty years into retirement—busier than ever, but finally on my own terms. Recently, someone asked me to sign up for another class here in our community. I told them I would, just as soon as someone adds three extra hours to the day. Until then, my schedule is full… of things I actually enjoy.

Of course, life still throws the occasional curveball. When it does, I know how to switch gears: focus, handle what needs handling, and then get right back to the business of living.

Because that’s what I’ve learned: being busy isn’t the problem. Being busy without joy is.

These days, I aim to stay fully occupied with things that make me smile, think, and feel alive. A cheerful spirit, I’ve found, keeps such good company that it hardly notices time passing at all.

And if I ever find those extra three hours in the day, don’t worry — I’ve already got a plan for them, and it starts with enjoying every minute.