Often, when someone asks me how I’ve been, I respond, “Busy. I feel like I can hardly catch my breath!” Frequently, when I give this response, I can’t even pinpoint what activities have been blocking out my calendar—I just know that time seems to dissolve faster than an ice cube on a summer day. And after I say this, my conversational partner will nod in agreement. They’re busy, too.
At the end of a long day, I relish the opportunity to survey the checkmarks next to items on my to-do list. A good day—I’m often tempted to think—is a day when I’ve checked off most or all of those items. I’ve gotten a lot done. I’ve contributed. My day had value.
