[Wo]Men for the sake of getting a living forget to live.
Margaret Fuller
(1810-1850)
Without work, all life goes rotten. But when work is soulless, life stifles and dies.
Albert Camus
(1913-1960)
I have to work. Putting a roof over my head and all that boring stuff pretty much requires it. That's okay, I don't mind. I buy the occasional lottery ticket and dream of how I would spend the jackpot gazillions (a beautiful remote spot at the sea features top of the list), how my life might be different freed from the need to earn a living. Mostly I am happily reconciled to the fact that I will need to work for a wage, for a long time yet. And I enjoy feeling that I am doing something productive and meaningful.
I've talked here about the trials, and perhaps not enough about the amazing satisfaction I get from what I do. Sometimes. Occasionally. Rarely. Yes, now it's rarely. There's a difference between surviving and thriving and although I used to love my work, I've allowed myself to slip into the situation where that satisfaction factor is so reduced as to be almost entirely invisible most days. Growth, which is supposed to be at the centre of what I'm about, and what I'm supposed to be involved in facilitating in others, feels non-existent in my own professional life. Even many of my existing strengths and skills are sitting in a metaphorical box locked up under my desk, seldom exercised. And I'm running so fast to stand still that I seldom have a chance to consider what's missing, or how to change it.
That's why the sabbatical.... It's a privilege to be able to carve out some time to decelerate, reconnect and restore and I'm very conscious that I need to make it count. I intend to use the opportunity to take stock, re-evaluate what's most important to me, excavate my professional passions (which I am sure are still lurking in the depths of me somewhere) and try to turn that all into something that allows me to make a living and live.
I was playing with the camera and an app on my phone and took the photograph above of a spot on my desk, which when I looked at it afterwards summed up a lot of what I think I'm after... opportunity for creativity, variety, a touch of poetry and a lot of heart!
Not too tall an order, is it?
♡
I've talked here about the trials, and perhaps not enough about the amazing satisfaction I get from what I do. Sometimes. Occasionally. Rarely. Yes, now it's rarely. There's a difference between surviving and thriving and although I used to love my work, I've allowed myself to slip into the situation where that satisfaction factor is so reduced as to be almost entirely invisible most days. Growth, which is supposed to be at the centre of what I'm about, and what I'm supposed to be involved in facilitating in others, feels non-existent in my own professional life. Even many of my existing strengths and skills are sitting in a metaphorical box locked up under my desk, seldom exercised. And I'm running so fast to stand still that I seldom have a chance to consider what's missing, or how to change it.
That's why the sabbatical.... It's a privilege to be able to carve out some time to decelerate, reconnect and restore and I'm very conscious that I need to make it count. I intend to use the opportunity to take stock, re-evaluate what's most important to me, excavate my professional passions (which I am sure are still lurking in the depths of me somewhere) and try to turn that all into something that allows me to make a living and live.
I was playing with the camera and an app on my phone and took the photograph above of a spot on my desk, which when I looked at it afterwards summed up a lot of what I think I'm after... opportunity for creativity, variety, a touch of poetry and a lot of heart!
Not too tall an order, is it?
♡
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7 comments:
Not a tall order at all. I have often wished this sabatical for you so that you can find yourself again. Hope you find the quiet time to rediscover all the qualities that have been missing from your life. xxx
WHEW! And a long time coming! However...timing is not great for me but that is my fault isn't it...So great to hear this news for you- a refresher and a poke to maybe get you going in a more suitable direction! That is my hope, so sorry to miss you just by a hair...another time, perhaps further south!
I would not have guessed that photo was of a desktop....I love the rainbow colours mixed with poetry books....Poems in the underground....I suppose where you are that means subway, but to me, it sounds like a peaceful little hole in the ground, like a treehouse but in the ground!
I am happy for you that you got your sabbatical and I wish you a good time during this time. Setting goals for oneself is never a to tall order. Only setting goals for others qualifies as to tall.
As so often is the case, balance is the answer. A sabbatical may help restore it.
What a beautiful way to look at sticky notes!
I am excited for you - I hope your sabatical will revitalize you and help you sort out what is really important.
I soooooo wish we were close and could meet for walks and cups of tea. Don't suppose a week on the other side of the world is a possibility?
All my best!
I hope this will be an incredible time of rest and rejuvenation for you.
This is so lovely as are you.
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