Busy. A horrible word. It suggests a spiritual disease. Someone has said that a bore is someone who, when you ask her how she is, tells you. A bigger bore is someone who, when you remark that he is busy, details how busy he is and with what activities.

I sometimes do that; few of us live up to the standards we promote in our own advice. But I think "busy" means being egotistic and arrogant--believing the world needs me so much. It means being inhospitable; I regale you with how much work your presence demands of me, how intrusive you are. I play God. I imply that you are less important if you are less busy. It's hard to expunge "busy" from the vocabulary, but it helps to remember its use is offensive.