One of the reasons I took a Leave of Presence was for my physical health. I had been suffering from back pain for nearly two years, even to the point where I had to miss work due to the level of pain or because of chiropractor appointments…sometimes three per week. While my holistic chiropractor and custom orthodics had helped, I still experienced some amount of pain on a daily basis.
I wondered: Would two months away from the stresses of my job and the physical confines of a cubicle for the majority of my day have any effect on my back pain?
YES.
After three weeks of not working, I basically had no back pain. No lumbar back pain — even when I drove in the car for long periods. No left back rib pain — even when I sneezed or took deep yoga breaths. I hadn't even done any special back stretches, and I battered my body whenever I boogie boarded. No pain. Yes, I swam every day, walked on the beach (and everywhere) and tried to do yoga in the mornings. This girl was quite happy.

My Leave of Presence was everything I needed and most of what I wanted. I met the only requirement I set for myself: Do NOT check work email. (It only took me 3 days to go through my 1000+ emails waiting in my inbox when I returned.) I found mental clarity, soul strengthening, holistic healthiness, new direction, realigned priorities, interesting experiences, thrilling adventures, quality time with friends and family, and….myself.

I fully acknowledge that this was a rare opportunity that not everyone gets to experience. God blessed me incredibly and knew that I needed that time to take a good look at my life from a distance…from a bird’s eye view…from God’s perspective. He had some things to tell me, pulled me out of the complacency of my comfortable life in CA, and offered me His guidance when He held my full attention. I pray I can continue to listen to His voice amidst the chaos of normalcy.

A “Leave of Presence” will look different for you. We don’t all need or hope to accomplish the same things. We thrive in various environments with certain levels of human interaction. While I am sociable, friendly and outgoing, I also know that I’m an introvert who gains strength from alone time. I become recharged after a few hours or days of quiet contemplation, hiking or journaling. However, others might feel incredibly anxious, sad or lethargic after time alone…they feed off the energy of other people. Discover what works for you and don’t betray yourself.

Now, your boss may become upset when I say this, but you might need a “Leave of Presence” too. However, I think it’s important for several reasons:

1. The world needs more happy, refreshed, uplifted, & inspired people.
2. Finding clarity about your life’s mission, your skills, passions and gifts, will lead you to a job that energizes you, instead of making you feel downtrodden. Your boss shouldn't want an employee who is miserable and doesn't perform well because the role isn't a good fit.
3. If you like your job (as I do), you’ll come back to work with a renewed perspective, bold ideas, a calm demeanor and elevated efforts.
4. Your new take on life could make you a better friend, citizen, family member & person, overall. By living in the moment with your gaze fixed on what matters in life, you won’t take things or people for granted as much. You’ll treat others with greater respect and love them more.
5. Plus, your boss probably needs a Leave too. We’re all too busy.

I am not perfect. I never will be. I won’t be anywhere close to perfection because I am a human who sins every day. I am constantly a work in process — under construction. This Leave revealed to me many things I’d like to improve about myself and also ways that I can leverage my strengths and gifts. I hope I can become a better person because of my Leave and carry with me replicable aspects of the Leave throughout my life. Maybe I won’t ever be able to take two months off from work again, but I can take a long weekend to turn off my phone and go to the cottage to journal. Maybe I can spend my lunches outside, reading my Bible phone app or calling a loved one. Maybe I can go swimming several times each week, not with turtles, but with a swim cap, goggles, and a wide open mind. Maybe I can focus on friendships instead of accomplishments, sleep instead of social media, family instead of work. Life is short (maybe you've heard that already), and I don’t want to waste time living in any other moment but this one.