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O P I N I O N
Radical sabbatical We all need a lengthy, unadulterated turning-off of our brains. How do you start? Try taking a break from the lifelong grind.
S abbatical – rooted in the Greek word sabbatikos – the word speaks to the act of taking a break. Historically, such a break has been exclusive to those in academia or religious ministry, and less for business professionals. But, like everything else, times are changing. In fact, so much so that even the U.S. Navy offers sabbaticals – called Career Intermission Programs.
Sylvia Montgomery GUEST SPEAKER
It was hard to recognize that working harder to change a situation was not necessarily smarter. Deciding to stop doing what I knew best, even when in conflict with personal values, was hard. Leading up to the leap, doing what I did best posed “Seven months ago, I started my sabbatical – and it was not a planned event. I wish I could say it was. For a planner, an unplanned and self-initiated sabbatical is not a stress-free situation. In fact, it’s quite the opposite.”
For many individuals, sabbaticals are planned events. I’m a planner. Since high school, I’ve had a plan. I’ve crossed all the Ts and dotted all the Is by pursuing degrees and careers that aligned to my personal road map – each experience and position was a stepping stone to the next. Like many of my Gen-X peers, a strong work ethic was the common thread that wove each of those experiences together. Seven months ago, I started my sabbatical – and it was not a planned event. I wish I could say it was. For a planner, an unplanned and self-initiated sabbatical is not a stress-free situation. In fact, it’s quite the opposite.
See SYLVIA MONTGOMERY, page 8
THE ZWEIG LETTER December 4, 2017, ISSUE 1226
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