Too Busy to Commit or Fear of Commitment? The Evite RSVP...

Remember when we were kids and we received and invitation for a friend's birthday party or some other gathering, and there was never any question that we were going? Remember when the only thing that could possibly stop you from going to your friend's party was getting sick, your parents, or an act of  God? What in the world happened to that?!?! That instantaneous "yes," RSVP reply. As Adults-in-Training, we now seem to live in a world of the ambiguous, noncommittal "maybe." I'm left wondering...why is that?

Now, before I go any further, I must acknowledge that as A-i-T's, we have both professional and domestic responsibilities, significant others, bills to pay, errands to run...and sometimes  we require this thing called sleep. In short, life can appear like a never ending to do list. Admittedly, sometimes we just plain don't fee like going. All this aside, where do our friends fit in and how is it that we have become "too busy" or hesitant to sign on the dotted line and commit to attending a friend's event once invited?

Let's keep it true for a second...when we  receive an Evite on a Monday, is it possible that most of us normally have no clue what we are doing on Friday or Saturday (in terms going out)? Is it possible that we probably won't know what we are doing till Thursday (at the earliest) or even  the day of? Why then do we act like we are going to be busy the day of the event and therefore avoid committing to attending our friend's event with that vague "maybe" response? Why is it that an invitation seems to invite us to think about every reason why we cannot make the event, rather than thinking about how we can?  

Are we trying to hold our options open in case something "better" might come along the way? Are we looking for a loophole in case we decide at the last minute not to go? Are we trying not to disappoint our friend by RSVP-ing "yes," and then not showing up?

Has anyone else noticed the change in evite/invitation etiquette over the last couple of years from one week's notice, to the recent standard of two weeks? When did we become corporations requiring two-weeks notice in order to enact some slow HR process to react to change? Are we honestly so busy as to warrant two-weeks notice from a friend to attend a social gathering?

"Busy," seems to be the default state of being for us A-i-Ts these days and I wonder if we haven't gotten too caught up in the illusion of being so? I won't pretend to know anyone's schedule or commitments, but too often, it has perpetually "been so long" since we last saw friend X. Whether you work, are in grad school, or both, Monday through Friday are understandably hectic and rigorously scheduled. The weekend is supposed to be reserved for personal errands, rest & relaxation, and catching up with the people you don't get to see 40+ hours a week. It seems like this latter part is slowly getting squeezed out by packed weekends or at least the illusion of them. But how are we supposed to catch up with friends if we don't make the time? 

It seems to me that accepting an invitation to a social gathering is an easy way to remedy that problem. The only stress on our part involves clicking a mouse... 

Fellow Adults-in-Training, what happened to that auto-"yes"-reply from our youth? Have we become too busy to commit?

Peace,
A-i-T