--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Busy is an opportunity, not a dirty word." description: "\"Busy is an opportunity, not a dirty word.\" — Joan Z. Borysenko" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e0/joan-z-borysenko-19413_busy_busy-is-an-opportunity-not-a-dirty-word_971699.jpg" --- # Busy is an opportunity, not a dirty word. ![“Busy is an opportunity, not a dirty word.” quote by Joan Z. Borysenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e0/joan-z-borysenko-19413_busy_busy-is-an-opportunity-not-a-dirty-word_971699.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e0/joan-z-borysenko-19413_busy_busy-is-an-opportunity-not-a-dirty-word_971699.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e0/joan-z-borysenko-19413_busy_busy-is-an-opportunity-not-a-dirty-word_971699.jpg) > “Busy is an opportunity, not a dirty word.” [Joan Z. Borysenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-z-borysenko/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Busy time can be reframed as a chance to grow, not a flaw. **In simple terms:** Busy is a chance to grow. Key Takeaway Embrace busyness as growth. Themes productivity mindset growth self‑improvement Mood motivational reflective Type inspirational practical When to use this quote - career development - entrepreneurship - personal projects - learning new skills Key Concepts time management psychology motivation Questions to Reflect On - How can you turn a hectic schedule into purposeful action? - What boundaries protect your well‑being? A Different Perspective May lead to burnout if not balanced. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dirty words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dirty-words/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity/) ## Related quotes > ["Pop" was a dirty word for a really long time and it feels like that's not the case anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lizzy-plapinger/pop-was-a-dirty-word-for-a-really-long-time-and-it-feels-like-that-s/) [Lizzy Plapinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lizzy-plapinger/) > [Risk is not a dirty word.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-wriston/risk-is-not-a-dirty-word/) [Walter Wriston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-wriston/) > [“Prejudice, a dirty word, and faith, a clean one, have something in common: they both begin where reason ends.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-lee/prejudice-a-dirty-word-and-faith-a-clean-one-have-something-in-common/) [Harper Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-lee/) > [Marijuana is rejected all over the world. Damned. In England heroin is alright for out-patents, but marijuana? They'll put your ass in jail. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-bruce/marijuana-is-rejected-all-over-the-world-damned-in-england-heroin-is/) [Lenny Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-bruce/) > [Reductionism is a dirty word, and a kind of 'holistier than thou' self-righteousness has become fashionable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/reductionism-is-a-dirty-word-and-a-kind-of-holistier-than-thou-self/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [A dirty word in the film business right now is intelligence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-caruso/a-dirty-word-in-the-film-business-right-now-is-intelligence/) [David Caruso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-caruso/) > [I think if we can't use the word feminist, if it's some kind of taboo or dirty word, or means you're ugly, or you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/i-think-if-we-can-t-use-the-word-feminist-if-it-s-some-kind-of-taboo/) [Ani DiFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/) > [Please make sure everyone knows how much their messages mean to me. They have added greatly to my peace of mind. I only wish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cooper/please-make-sure-everyone-knows-how-much-their-messages-mean-to-me/) [Gary Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cooper/) > [Those who think profit is a dirty word should try to make one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/those-who-think-profit-is-a-dirty-word-should-try-to-make-one/) [James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/) > [In obstetrics and gynecology, the term abortionist is still a dirty word.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-thompson/in-obstetrics-and-gynecology-the-term-abortionist-is-still-a-dirty/) Joe Thompson > [It is a fitting irony that under Richard Nixon, 'launder' became a dirty word](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-zinsser/it-is-a-fitting-irony-that-under-richard-nixon-launder-became-a-dirty/) [William Zinsser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-zinsser/) > [Well, I don't think Hollywood's a dirty word at all, I love a lot of Hollywood films.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-nicholls/well-i-don-t-think-hollywood-s-a-dirty-word-at-all-i-love-a-lot-of/) [David Nicholls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-nicholls/) > [I remember the whole thing with the word ambition. I was messed up for a while because I associated it with certain people who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winona-ryder/i-remember-the-whole-thing-with-the-word-ambition-i-was-messed-up-for/) [Winona Ryder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winona-ryder/) > [I find myself, after all these years, with a built-in safety-brake that stops me from doing certain things. And one of the reasons why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helmut-newton/i-find-myself-after-all-these-years-with-a-built-in-safety-brake-that/) [Helmut Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helmut-newton/) > ["Exercise" is such a dirty word in my household that whenever I even think of it, I wash my mouth out with chocolate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonore-fleischer/exercise-is-such-a-dirty-word-in-my-household-that-whenever-i-even/) [Leonore Fleischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonore-fleischer/) ## More by Joan Z. Borysenko > [When we are capable of living in the moment free from the tyranny of "shoulds," free from the nagging sensation that this moment isn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-z-borysenko/when-we-are-capable-of-living-in-the-moment-free-from-the-tyranny-of/) [Joan Z. Borysenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-z-borysenko/) > [Keep an open mind, but don't let your brain fall out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-z-borysenko/keep-an-open-mind-but-don-t-let-your-brain-fall-out/) [Joan Z. Borysenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-z-borysenko/) > [Some tension is necessary for the soul to grow, and we can put that tension to good use. We can look for every opportunity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-z-borysenko/some-tension-is-necessary-for-the-soul-to-grow-and-we-can-put-that/) [Joan Z. Borysenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-z-borysenko/) > [Thank God for what doesn't need healing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-z-borysenko/thank-god-for-what-doesn-t-need-healing/) [Joan Z. Borysenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-z-borysenko/) > [Every act of kindness and compassion toward others gets multiplied when they, in turn, pass it on. One by one the world becomes a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-z-borysenko/every-act-of-kindness-and-compassion-toward-others-gets-multiplied/) [Joan Z. Borysenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-z-borysenko/) > [Forgiveness ... is the finishing of old business that allows us to experience the present, free of contamination from the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-z-borysenko/forgiveness-is-the-finishing-of-old-business-that-allows-us-to/) [Joan Z. Borysenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-z-borysenko/) > [Learning to listen to ourselves is a way of learning to love ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-z-borysenko/learning-to-listen-to-ourselves-is-a-way-of-learning-to-love-ourselves/) [Joan Z. Borysenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-z-borysenko/) > [Nature is another important aspect of nourishing the soul. After a hike in the mountains where we live, for instance, I feel a remarkable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-z-borysenko/nature-is-another-important-aspect-of-nourishing-the-soul-after-a/) [Joan Z. Borysenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-z-borysenko/) > [Everyday brings a choice: to practice stress or to practice peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-z-borysenko/everyday-brings-a-choice-to-practice-stress-or-to-practice-peace/) [Joan Z. Borysenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-z-borysenko/) > [The stereotype of aging as a progressive loss of function is generally true only for people who stop functioning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-z-borysenko/the-stereotype-of-aging-as-a-progressive-loss-of-function-is/) [Joan Z. Borysenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-z-borysenko/) > [Because gratification of a desire leads to the temporary stilling of the mind and the experience of the peaceful, joyful Self, it's no wonder…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-z-borysenko/because-gratification-of-a-desire-leads-to-the-temporary-stilling-of/) [Joan Z. Borysenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-z-borysenko/) > [The question is not whether we will barbecue, but how we will barbecue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-z-borysenko/the-question-is-not-whether-we-will-barbecue-but-how-we-will-barbecue/) [Joan Z. Borysenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-z-borysenko/) > [Unpredictability is closely related to uncontrollability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-z-borysenko/unpredictability-is-closely-related-to-uncontrollability/) [Joan Z. Borysenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-z-borysenko/) > [True peacefulness comes from abandoning the illustion that satisfying desires brings pleasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-z-borysenko/true-peacefulness-comes-from-abandoning-the-illustion-that-satisfying/) [Joan Z. Borysenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-z-borysenko/) > [May I be at peace. May I awaken to the light of my own true nature. May I be healed and may I be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-z-borysenko/may-i-be-at-peace-may-i-awaken-to-the-light-of-my-own-true-nature-may/) [Joan Z. Borysenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-z-borysenko/) [Explore all 32 Joan Z. Borysenko quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-z-borysenko/) ## More Busy quotes > [Success doesn't have a downside for me. I'm busy, but I've always been busy whatever job I've had. My very first job working in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-derbyshire/success-doesn-t-have-a-downside-for-me-i-m-busy-but-i-ve-always-been/) Victoria Derbyshire > [I remember till 997th film, but after that I got so busy with multiple projects; I'm not sure which one released as my 1,000th…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brahmanandam/i-remember-till-997th-film-but-after-that-i-got-so-busy-with-multiple/) [Brahmanandam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brahmanandam/) > [I love to work in football, so for me it's not work. I'm not here first in the morning and last in the evening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-farke/i-love-to-work-in-football-so-for-me-it-s-not-work-i-m-not-here-first/) [Daniel Farke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-farke/) > [We all have time away from football to get our head down. At the same time it is a very busy schedule.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reece-james/we-all-have-time-away-from-football-to-get-our-head-down-at-the-same/) [Reece James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reece-james/) > [I am on sabbatical as of right now, been too busy to think of about my OWN needs as of late.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-diamond/i-am-on-sabbatical-as-of-right-now-been-too-busy-to-think-of-about-my/) [Jim Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-diamond/) > [“I don't envy "busy." Busy means having a schedule, not living life. What I really covet is leisure and peace of mind. Those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-lynn-hope/i-don-t-envy-busy-busy-means-having-a-schedule-not-living-life-what-i/) [Donna Lynn Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-lynn-hope/) > [Focus on being productive instead of busy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-ferriss/focus-on-being-productive-instead-of-busy/) [Tim Ferriss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-ferriss/) > [I do spend a lot of weekends on the road. I have to pace myself. It can be pretty busy, but I'm not out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-sinise/i-do-spend-a-lot-of-weekends-on-the-road-i-have-to-pace-myself-it-can/) [Gary Sinise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-sinise/) > [Our civilization, bequeathed to us by fierce adventurers, eaters of meat and hunters, is so full of hurry and combat, so busy about many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/our-civilization-bequeathed-to-us-by-fierce-adventurers-eaters-of/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [I have no social life. There is no time for one. Once in a while I may go to dinner with a friend but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-halliday/i-have-no-social-life-there-is-no-time-for-one-once-in-a-while-i-may/) [Liz Halliday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-halliday/) > [I like acting too much and it's too, I'm just too busy doing that and I'm too hungry for it, to get behind the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-weisz/i-like-acting-too-much-and-it-s-too-i-m-just-too-busy-doing-that-and/) [Rachel Weisz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-weisz/) > [The hollow horn plays wasted words, proves to warn that he not busy being born is busy dying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/the-hollow-horn-plays-wasted-words-proves-to-warn-that-he-not-busy/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [Films are tricky because for years you're getting told you're about to make it and you're about to be busy for four or six…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-mills/films-are-tricky-because-for-years-you-re-getting-told-you-re-about/) [Mike Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-mills/) > [Never be too busy for the people you love. Never allow pursuits or possessions to become bigger priorities than your relationships. Love is what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-willis/never-be-too-busy-for-the-people-you-love-never-allow-pursuits-or/) [Dave Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-willis/) > [“Get busy live'n, or get busy die'n”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-shawshank-redemption/get-busy-live-n-or-get-busy-die-n/) The Shawshank Redemption Browse all 3,372 Busy quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Busy is an opportunity, not a dirty word.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Joan Z. 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