Upon Entering Sabbatical

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.

  1. Do you have a plan for your first week of sabbatical (doing, being)? Do you have a particular intention?
  2. Do you have a plan for your last week of sabbatical (doing, being)? Do you have a particular intention?
  3. What do you say to others about your upcoming sabbatical? What is your story that you offer them?
  4. What do you say to yourself about your upcoming sabbatical? What is your story that you are telling yourself?
  5. What would be a mistake for you in this time? A missed opportunity?
  6. Is there unique rest that you need during this time?
  7. What feels easy about this sabbatical time? Is there anything that feels hard?
  8. “Sabbatical” has origin in 1600 Greek for “sabbath.” Is there a connection that you make between your sabbatical and sabbath?
  9. 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.

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