This post was originally written on 12/17/17 for subscribers of the daily taryn, a daily email newsletter/writing project . Now's the perfect time to join, so I'll hold while you do so by clicking this. Love u.
People perceive me as busy, because I am. I used to think it was cool to be busy, running from thing to thing, traveling and commuting and weighing out my plan options — “plan shopping” as they call it. I loved being busy, until I realized that being present, being un-busy, even being purposefully lazy is the best possible thing you can be.
A must read
Not this post, but another. This afternoon, I was being purposefully un-busy, finally prioritizing reading over shopping, email checking, and endless twitter scrolling.
I’ve been marching my way through Tim Ferriss’ Tools of Titans, a massive book filled with advice from the world’s best performers and icons. This morning, I was reading a section written by essayist and cartoonist Tim Kreiger. It was all about being lazy and being busy, and how it’s all one big trap. I highlighted everything, knowing that it would change the way I saw the world. Knowing I’d never want to forget a word I read.
I immediately felt selfish having read it — I felt better for it and needed to get it out in front of some other eyes. After I highlighted my kindle to it’s near death, I found that what I had been reading was a slightly-updated version of a 2013 piece, also by Tim Kreiger, in the New York Times.
Read it tonight, before the busy of Monday comes knocking. I promise, you’ll be better for it.