I'm Busy!!!!!

"Oh, I've been busy," I said casually, as if that explained my behavior, and as if in this one phrase she would receive complete understanding and have no further questions. However, I knew that in truth, it wasn't so much I was busy (even though my perception is that I was) it is more that I chose different priorities than the ones associated with her. I knew by saying this she knew what I meant because like me, she uses the phrase quite liberally, too. What is this word "busy" and why are we consumed, bombarded, and fatigued by it? Is it that we over-schedule ourselves with so much to do so that we don't have to think about what isn't getting done?