Ouch. I think Socrates was thinking of me when he said this because the truth in these words stings deep in my spirit. It’s also something I’m seeing happen more and more in the world. Let me explain, I have a full time job, am a full time grad student and an intern 20+ hours a week. Basically this means that I’m always, always, always busy. I’m lucky to get to see my family a couple hours a day and friends? What are those? My world is busy but empty.

This is what Socrates is reminding me… that I’m missing community and connection because of the busy. It’s this that I also see in the world. Everyone is so focused on what they are doing that they find themselves living a lonely existence. I can’t speak for you specifically but I can speak for me and say it’s time to reprioritize.

Work, school and internship are all life requirements but I can make time for family and friends. I just have to fight for my need to connect and follow through with reaching out and focusing on my community.

So what’s your world like? What do you need to reprioritize to regain your community and connection to fill that barren life being too busy has created? Remind yourself you aren’t alone, barren lives don’t have to exist! It’s time to stand up for you and make connection happen!

Sarah Deats

Sarah Deats is the Arizona Outpatient Support Services Manager at RI International and the Hope Inc. Stories Inspiration Engineer. Her goals are to make a connection with everyone that she can while building community, spreading hope, and sparking change. She believes that while life may not be easy, it is never lived alone.