Sabbatical
A sabbatical (from the Hebrew: שַׁבָּת Šabat (i.e., Sabbath); in Latin sabbaticus; Greek: sabbatikos σαββατικός) is a rest or break from work.
The concept of the sabbatical is based on the Biblical practice of shmita (sabbatical year), which is related to agriculture. According to Leviticus 25, Jews in the Land of Israel must take a year-long break from working the fields every seven years. (Source: Wikipedia)
This morning I woke up at about 11:30am. It was the first day of the next six months of my life.
Starting from June 3, 2022, until (effectively) January 3, 2023, I will be taking a sabbatical from work. This wouldn’t be the first time in my (adult) life when I’m not working or in school full time. I had a few months of unemployment when I was 23, but that wasn’t fun. It wasn’t by choice, and I was constantly feeling bad about how I wasn’t achieving… anything. I once described it as “the most unproductive time of my life.”
This break, however, I see entirely differently.
I’ve been exceptionally fortunate to be able to take this time off without having to quit my job, although I did have to sign a waiver to say that I am aware that my job may not be available for me when I return from this Leave of Absence.
With that waiver aside, I am entering into this new phase with optimism, energy, and a list of goals. Also, it’s important to me that this sabbatical is intentional, mindful, and feminist.
1. Focus on physical health
- Eat well
- Exercise
- Try to develop new skills with my body!
2. Connect with people I care about
- Travel to see family
- Travel to see friends
- Re-kindle/create relationships in a way that feels meaningful and authentic
3. Explore inner truths
- What would I do if I wasn’t afraid?
- What would I do if I wasn’t afraid to fail?
- How might I live my life in a more joyful and meaningful way?
And, because you know I can’t turn my strategist brain off, of course I’ve got Success Metrics defined as well:
1. Learn new things about myself
2. Feel a bit uncomfortable — not unsafe, but challenged
3. Come back with new ideas, new energy, new hopes, new outlooks
4. Really feel the fullness of experiences
My sister recommended that I think of myself as an alien visiting earth for the first time, for 6-months. What would I want to see, feel, and visit for this to be a worthwhile trip? What are the most beautiful, fun, interesting parts of the world that I can experience and enjoy?
Of course, it takes a bit of privilege to think of life this way (as a vacation of sorts) but does that negate the value in the approach? I think not.
In essence, that’s what our life is about. It’s a finite visit to this planet — and if you’re lucky, maybe even another planet? — so, then the question becomes, what do you want to do during this trip?
