Why young females should stay busy
The more and more that I spend time with friends I realize that a committment to staying active and avoiding idleness prevents us as young women, from getting too: wrapped up in our own heads, obsessing over work, a partner’s work, our parents’ relationships, our siblings’ relationships, money, our bodies, our partner’s bodies, or a lack of partner’s bodies, etc.
I have this friend. Well, had this friend. She lives in another part of the state, we went to high school and middle school together. She contacted a couple of us before our ten year reunion via email; the content was something along the lines of “you were the best friends anyone could have and I ditched you. I made a horrible mistake that made me suffer, I hope you can forgive me.” But it was in high school, right? So some of us are over it. WAY over it. Frankly, we were over it in high school. Long story short, she keeps up with us on Facebook, or rather she lets us know what she is obsessing over: her boyfriend (nicknamed “PB” or “Papa Bear”), and her new mantra “I am woman hear me roar.” Her daily pontifications are growing more and more allusive, making me feel like I am deciphering the damn DaVinci Code—but no where near that interesting.
I read them thinking “What? The Opus Dei is in Oregon, and there is a Bear, and it wants to take you to a relay race, and it sings ‘Your Body is a Wonderland’ by John Mayer?” Surely she has lost her job, and sits around her house all day dreamily gazing out the window and writing lists of the things she needs from her relationship, and how she is going to make herself stronger, just as soon as she gets off the couch.
If I wasn’t so apathetic about the relationship I would call her and tell her, “Go outside. Go for a walk. Get a library card one day. A pedicure the next. Make a new friend on day three. Apply for any job you can. But for fuck’s sake get the fuck out of your house and out of your head. No one wants to be around a do-nothing, mental hoarder. Even you.”
However, I am apathetic about it. And apathy might be the pitfall of staying TOO busy. But it beats posting emotional haiku’s on the wall. And frankly, it’s fucking Facebook, dude.
