In Defense of the Word "Busy" and Easy Slow Cooker Chicken

After blogging for the past 9+ months, I have stuck mostly to talking about healthy recipes, but for those of you who know me outside this blog, you know I'm not one to sit quietly when I have something on my mind. After reading many posts on Facebook and other media over the past few months, I have been mildly amused by the sudden demonization of the word "busy." I first saw THIS article on Huffington post and then proceeded to see many shares and repeats of the tone of the article, plus many more bloggers jumping on the "anti-busy" bandwagon. I responded politely to one friend (whom I respect and admire greatly), that "hey, yeah, I'm busy, but mostly doing things I love with the people I love." To me, that is life, people have always been busy, heck, not so long ago humans were busy just trying to SURVIVE. It took all day just to find a meal! And lets not forget there are plenty of people in this world who still struggle every. single. day just to survive.

So, in many ways it is in our nature to be busy and I'm so thankful I can be busy doing wonderful things, mixed in with the necessary things that make me happy. Perhaps it is the nurse in me that finds this all so humorous. As a nurse you are busy, busy taking care of the patient/family in front of you --giving that patient your full attention,  but also knowing you have many more tasks ahead of you before the end of a shift and ready to respond should an emergency arise. There is no time to get offended if a co-worker is too busy to sit down and chat or help you out with your assignment! As a nurse I learned to prioritize and keep perspective and I try to apply that to my daily life today.

These days, many of us are waking up early, getting things done, trying new experiences, helping our children grow and learn, running a household, working part-time or full-time, volunteering, organizing, {insert your own commitments here}. I have two beautiful children that need me to help them participate in activities they love, a husband I love spending time with, amazing friends I connect with daily, a part-time job, a blog and growing business, a commitment to my family's health and wellness through cooking healthy meals, laundry that needs to be done and a dog that needs to be walked, etc., etc. -- it never ends. Guess what... I'm busy.

However, I strive to balance it all, do it with a positive attitude and be present in the moment. We make sure to have low-key family time and say "no" to activities that cut into that time. I'm not saying I have it all figured out, but for those who take issue with the word "busy", I say that's ok. You go ahead and remove that word from your vocabulary, but if you hear me say it, don't turn it into more than it is -- do not be offended. I sincerely hope I don't say it in a rude manner, if someone is impolite, then that is a whole different issue! I am never offended when an invitation is declined, I get it, I understand and I also know that if that person is important to me and vice versa, we will make it happen at a time that works for both of us.

 In my view there are plenty of more things in life to be offended by --Telling you I am busy is nothing more than sharing that I have a lot going on -- I am busy, but loving it! Especially when I am busy snuggling my boys that I know will be grown and off to live life on their own in the blink of an eye. I am busy being HAPPY in this crazy, wonder life that I am so thankful to live.

So tell me, do you consider "busy" the new four-letter word or do you think this is just a trend? What are your thoughts?

Ok, enough with the opinion piece, now a recipe that will help you get on your way when you have more important things to do than cook dinner!

 

 

 

Easy Slow Cooker Chicken

 



4 chicken breasts, skin on, bone-in
1 large carrot
1 medium onion
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon cracked pepper
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon paprika
1 bunch fresh parsley

1. Chop carrot and onions into large chunks and place in bottom of slow-cooker (crockpot).
2. Place chicken on top of vegetables, sprinkle salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika and rub into skin. 3. Place parsley on top of chicken. Cover and cook on low 6-8 hours until cooked through and no longer pink. Remove from slow cooker, peel off skin, remove meat from the bones.
Excellent as a meal or save for use in salads, sandwiches and soups throughout the week!

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