“I’m Busy, You Too?” — Reclaiming Presence in a Culture of Busyness It’s become the default greeting. “How are you?” “I’m busy. You too?” Somewhere along the way, “I’m busy” replaced “I’m well” as the standard response. And what’s more, we’ve come to expect it—maybe even admire it. In many ways, being busy has become a badge of honour, a quiet declaration of worthiness, productivity, and importance. But is this relentless busyness actually serving us? The Busyness Benchmark In today’s culture, being busy isn’t just a state of being—it’s a social currency. It communicates that we’re needed, in demand, valuable. But what’s the hidden cost? Behind the multitasking, the constant phone checking, the overfilled calendars and never-ending to-do lists is often a deeper drive: the need to feel in control, to feel significant, to avoid discomfort or decision-making. We may even begin to equate busyness with identity: “I am busy, therefore I am worthy.” But is this truly the benchmark we want to