What the heck is a “sabbatical”? This was the question my kids asked as I planned a mini-vacation for myself. I explained to them that a “sabbatical” was my time to recharge after surviving the spring semester. According to Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary, a sabbatical is a break or change from a normal routine (as of employment).

What does “sabbatical” mean to you?

After subbing the last 13 weeks of the school year for junior high language arts and fulfilling my duties for our farm, I needed a break from the “normal” routine. I needed a complete reset, so booking a cabin for a couple of nights made perfect sense. My packing consisted only of comfortable clothes, food, books, wine, and melatonin. I was bound and determined to relax on my “sabbatical.”

The hardest part about taking the sabbatical was my guilt. I felt terribly guilty about leaving hubby and the kiddos and neglecting my responsibilities at our home and farm. I felt guilty about missing baseball games and gymnastics practices. I felt guilty about leaving my dog. I felt guilty about the fact that I had no purpose other than to rest. I was crazy.

Taking those 72 hours to relax, recharge, and rediscover my motivation was the healthiest thing I could have done. I now believe that is what a sabbatical should do.

While on my sabbatical, I prayed, walked, read, napped, basked in the warmth and light of the fireplace, and enjoyed the company of my mama and dear friend Katie (They joined me in the evenings.) My amazing friend Amy donated one day of her very busy life to chill out with me at the cabin also. We did nothing but walk, talk, laugh, and eat. Everything I did in that time was intended to reinvigorate and heal my worn-out soul and body. It helped.

While I know that booking a cabin to escape for three days isn’t always feasible, I do know that we all have the power to create a short-term reset for ourselves and call it a “sabbatical,” because we all deserve a break or change from our normal routines when we are weary.

Giving yourself time to define who you are and what your focus needs to be is one of the most beneficial choices you can make. Take a break before you break down.

The Intentergy challenge for today is to consider how you are holding up and recognize a healthy focus for you in this time and space.

My hope for you is that taking time, whether it be a few moments, hours, or days (if needed and possible), helps you clarify your cause and designate your determination. I am certain that reserving this respite will give you positive purpose and energy as you find yourself on a defining sabbatical.

P.S. I plan to do A LOT more research on defining a sabbatical for myself.

Works Cited:
“Sabbatical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sabbatical. Accessed 14 May. 2024.