I spoke with a friend and colleague recently who is about to begin a 3-month sabbatical. It is for him a period of rest, celebration, reflection, play, and a few other things. This is a person who invited me to ask a few questions upon his sabbatical entry. To shape some of his wondering, imagination, and deliberateness of his unique time.
Here’s what I offered, each with pause for him to journal / make notes / draw images. And then a bit of conversation and shared reflection at the end.
- Do you have a plan for your first week of sabbatical (doing, being)? Do you have a particular intention?
- Do you have a plan for your last week of sabbatical (doing, being)? Do you have a particular intention?
- What do you say to others about your upcoming sabbatical? What is your story that you offer them?
- What do you say to yourself about your upcoming sabbatical? What is your story that you are telling yourself?
- What would be a mistake for you in this time? A missed opportunity?
- Is there unique rest that you need during this time?
- What feels easy about this sabbatical time? Is there anything that feels hard?
- “Sabbatical” has origin in 1600 Greek for “sabbath.” Is there a connection that you make between your sabbatical and sabbath?
- Do you have an intention for harvesting your noticing and learning during this time?
It was great fun to hold a space for my friend to find a few of his clarities about sabbatical. It was great fun to encourage his letting go and letting come. It was great fun to animate an awakeness to a few of his choices of being / doing.
Here’s to good journey for my friend and colleague. And for all of us.
