When I’m in the middle of two projects, I like to take some kind of break. I visualize myself sitting in a meadow besides a river, peacefully staring across the water and having an equally peaceful mind.

Needless to say, this is asking for trouble and unexpected busy-ness (as writer SARK calls it). I started off well, I must say, by treating myself to a Thai massage by Salon Physique’s (and Living Yoga-star) Dieke on Monday morning, ahhh. That got me so relaxed that I’m now one foot into ‘slow mode’ and the other in busy-ness. This is an interesting place to be because all of a sudden I catch myself creating what I call Unnessecary Busy-ness (UBbing, as a verb).

Typical of UBbing is the urge to fill up any empty spaces! My favourite UBbing moments involve waiting and/or public transport. In stead of just walking from the station and enjoying the walk I feel SUCH a strong need to call or SMS someone. When I’m totally honest and existential, I know that somewhere deep inside, being Busy and ‘connected’ covers up my fear of ‘not being ’. We now have a commercial for a telecom company in Holland that shockingly promotes this need; “don’t become a ‘somebody’; keep texting!”

I do therefore I am. Very scary! Why? Because we are losing the connection to Just Being. Constantly verifying and echoing our existence by UBbing isn’t necessary if we realize that we exist effortlessly, we still breathe and see and love without doing anything! It just takes a deep breath and some guts.

So let’s un-UB this week, shall we?

Peace,
Geertje