Busyness feels satisfying to the affirming. They may even feel a sense of moral justification when they are exhausted and overwhelmed. There is a rightness to it. That’s not to say that they exactly enjoy being busy all the time, but it does feel less distressing than rest. Knowing that they have productively used every moment of the day to improve themselves and their world and move toward some larger goals keeps away most of the guilt of life and fear of inadequacy. They must work hard so they can play hard, but there is nothing in-between.
