13 Ways to Know When It’s Time for Time Away

Despite numerous stories extolling the profound rewards of taking time away, it’s an idea that is not being as heartily embraced as it might be. In fact, many people find the whole notion downright terrifying.

Because the concept of regular sabbaticals throughout our lifetime has been so ignored in recent times, there’s some confusion over what constitutes a true sabbatical.

My definition of sabbatical is time away with a purpose. The purpose of such a time is not to abandon your life, but to enrich it.

In the original concept, first defined in the Old Testament book of Hebrews, a sabbatical was to be taken by everyone, every seven years. During this year off, fields were to lie fallow, debts were to be forgiven, relationships were to be repaired and introspection was encouraged.

Over time, of course, the notion disappeared and today many people don’t even observe a weekly Sabbath, much less consider an entire year of restoration.

Whether you’re in a year divisible by seven or not, here are several signs that it is the perfect time to consider a sabbatical of your own:

° You can’t remember the last time you had a new idea you were excited about.

° You’ve reached all of your goals.

° You’ve reached none of your goals.

° Your kids think you’re a nerd and you suspect they’re right.

° You have a nagging suspicion that you’d be really good at something if you only  had time to learn how to do it.

° You get wistful every time a plane flies overhead.

° Nobody ever asks you what’s new.

° A long-term relationship or career has come to an end.

° You’re ready to find a new hometown.

° You’re tired of being an armchair traveler and want to see distant lands for  yourself.

° You feel drawn to donate your time and talents to a humanitarian cause.

° You need time to do research or start a long-term project.

° Your soul is weary.

If any of these describe you, it’s time to let go of the excuses and get going.

“What I discovered is that when you make the time and the space for what you long to do,” says Sarah Susanka, “everything else shifts to accommodate it. It never works the other way around. If you wait until there’s time to do what you want, you’ll be waiting until your eighty-fifth birthday.”

Laughing All the Way

“The seeds of what we will do are in all of us,” observed Ernest Hemingway, “but it always seemed to me that in those who can laugh in life the seeds are covered with better soil and a higher grade of manure.” Since I believe that you can’t have too much laughter, I was delighted to learn that it’s time for Prairie Home Companion’s annual joke show.

In most parts of the country, PHC runs on Saturday evening and, sometimes, again on late Sunday morning. One of my favorite audiobooks on a solitary road trip is PHC’s Pretty Good Jokes, a compilation of past shows. Some of them are corny, some clever, a few are risqué. It’s all good fun. 

Although I’ve never been to the Q Kindness Cafe in St. Paul, MN, I have followed the story of how Lisa Cotter Metwaly and her husband turned this struggling enterprise around by making kindness their operating policy. When Lisa sent out  this story to her fans, I knew I wanted to pass it along. It’s a brilliant example of making the ordinary into something extraordinary.

After I helped my archaeologist sister plan her sabbatical, I became wildly envious. Why do only academics get time away? Why had we abandoned the ancient notion of taking regular sabbaticals throughout our lifetimes? I couldn’t find any books for people like me: nonacademic, self-employed, in need of time away. Then I began meeting people who had taken sabbaticals. Every last one of them said, “It was the best thing I ever did.” I was sold, but not sure how to handle the logistics. 

You can read the rest of my thoughts on Time Away With a  Purpose by visiting Inspiration Station.

To paraphrase a quote from Lady Holland, “Ideas, like babies, grow larger with nursing.” Alice Barry and I are launching a movement to rescue and nurture neglected ideas. We figure such an undertaking begins by sharing what we know about nurturing ideas. We’ve set aside two days in May and we’re heading to Dodge City, KS to the ultimate ideafest. We’re calling it Follow Through Camp and it’s designed to stimulate and encourage creative thinking and problem solving. Love to have you along. It is going to be serious fun.

I’ve never met JoEllen Berryman, but after getting this message from her, I’d love to meet her. Her story is a study in flexibility and taking responsibility for staying inspired.

I am a freelance photo stylist.  I do the setups they shoot for ads and catalog, beds, drapes, curtains.  You have seen my work with Martha Stewart and Bed Bath and Beyond.  This last year has been my hardest.  Budget cuts and rate cuts and lost gigs. I am now looking for other means of income.  This has led me to look into all kinds of things.  Dog walking….which is really fun and babysitting which I love as well.  Not afraid to do things that are new so now 

I am  studying Internet marketing….that has been scary and challenging.  I actually was looking for a way to get traffic to my web site that shows my work to people in the industry.  Now I see that the ideas are endless.

I really dig what you are doing.  I joined a Gospel choir at Middle Collegiate Church here in NYC.  I hadn’t sung in over 30 years.  I moved here as a song and dance actress and got sidetracked.  Singing with this choir has saved me from going into despair and fear.  It is impossible to stay down when you are singing.  The choir is open….everyone is welcome.  You are right on the money when you encourage people to try things they normally wouldn’t do.  It feeds every aspect of my life.  When I see the joy in the faces of the crowds we sing for, it is so rewarding.  It is the ultimate high.  It has also given me oppor tunities I never would have dreamed possible.  We sang back up for Debby Harry of  Blondie.  When I was dancing to her music in the clubs I never dreamed I would be on stage with her at the ripe old age of 58.  Life truly is an amazing adventure if you leave yourself open.

I also do volunteer work.  Nothing gets you off the pity pot faster than helping someone else. Went to New Orleans to help gut homes and went back the following year to help paint etc.  Those experiences were priceless.  Better than any luxury vacation I have been on.

I just wanted to cheer you on.  What you are sharing with the world are such important lessons.  Everyone is so caught up in doom and gloom and your stuff made me smile.  Let us remember that 96% of the USA still have jobs and 98% are paying their mortgages on time.  We are looking at the wrong end of the statistics.  Hope needs to be projected as people frozen in fear is a bigger problem than the lost jobs.  Fear stops you from moving forward.  We all need to keep moving and take ACTION.  Baby steps will do just fine.

If you are ever in New York look me up.  It would be a joy to meet such a positive spirit. The Collegiate Churches could sure use a seminar by you.  

Joyous, happy and free,

JoEllen Berryman