Removing Busy-ness from the business

I was having coffee with a friend few weeks back when he noted that busy-ness has become a sort of currency in our modern world.

Since then, I can not help but notice every time it comes up casually in conversation, or when I was about to tell someone how busy I am. Perhaps, I am hearing it a lot more now because conversations usually start out with how busy I must be, now that I am an MLA.

When telling Emily about this story she confirmed that I was a heavy trader in the busy-ness marketplace. “Every greeting starts with how busy you are,” she said. Once this was brought to my attention, I realized how true it is, busy-ness is pervasive in our chit-chat and often takes over the entire conversation.

While on a family vacation in the Fraser Canyon, we attended the Tuckkwiowhum PowWow and I sat with a woman named Marilyn, who did a Medicine Card reading for me. The result was fascinating.

The message reminded me to stop, not get caught up in the busy-ness and look a little closer at the world around me.

I pulled three cards. Coyote, Frog and Alligator. Marilyn had a few personal messages, but back at camp I did a bit of reading on the medicine from these three animals which will be very helpful in the coming weeks.

Summed up, Frog is about cleansing and transformation, it is the medicine for busy-ness. Frog promotes a purification, calmness and taking deep breaths when moving from one thing to another. Alligator teaches that it is best to roll with the circumstances as they come. Alligator encourages patience, timing and one to digest information before passing judgement. Coyote is the trickster who fools himself with his own trickery. Coyote encourages us to learn from our mistakes so as not to make them again.

So my medicine for the busy-ness that lies ahead is to slow down and remove the distractions, to be thoughtful in approach and speech, to take great care and to not take anything for granted.

Now that I am back from holiday, I look forward to writing more about local governance, transportation, housing, First Nations and the many other issues that are in need of attention in the upcoming session of the Legislature.