Busy

The other day, my wife and I were discussing if it's good to get days off work during our daughter's term break. Without guilt, I mean.

For a moment, we hesitated. All around were many hardworking colleagues, patients to be seen, plus tasks to be ticked off. We felt as if we'd been caught trying to loaf about.

All right. I should say we won't starve if we put out feet up for a couple of days. And taking a break is something forgivable, and more so when we have been working our butts off.

On top of that, carving out time for the family should have been the priority. Something we all deserve and shouldn't sacrifice. Something we can't wait for retirement to do. What better way to spend time with my daughter at the recently reopened Hong Kong Museum of Art? Or, hiking the waterfront trails near Cape D'Aguilar or Luk Keng? There should not be any excuse except the one we all use: I was "busy" - in the way bestselling author Mitch Albom had previously used. And, as it turns out when I read his memoir Finding Chika, this is the excuse Mitch Albom regrets the most. At one time, work was his focus. He was busy, chasing success, taking every assignment he could get, and delayed starting a family.

And soon, all that was left for Mitch Albom and his wife was to rush, to meet doctors and try extra things to have babies. In vain. Yes, years passed when we told ourselves we were busy.