Well… Why not?

Going on a sabbatical was not a straight forward decision for me.

As part of the “good student” group, I have always done what you are told you are supposed to do. Go to school, have good grades, get into a good university, have good grades and after graduation start working in the corporate world going up the ladder every year. Doing a sabbatical was definitely not in that path.

I had always seen the sabbatical as a crazy thing that only the bravest and most craziest persons could do but at the same time I felt jealous of the ones that were able to do it.

Until one Friday, I went for a couple of drinks with a friend and I was explaining her how tired I was from these last intense years of work and feeling that I needed a break to think about my goals and to rest from the latest 2 years of interesting but intense work. That is when she told me that it is actually stipulated in the French law that for anyone with 6 years of work experience and 3 years in the same company, your employers is obliged to accept your request! I was like : say whaat??? The French lawyers are definitely more open minded than me. That is when I started putting into perspective this option and understood that doing a sabbatical was not that big of a deal. And there are actually more reasons in favor than against it.

Life is too short to not be brave enough, I want to be bold, embrace and realize even my secret dreams. There is plenty of reasons of why I shouldn’t do it (and for some reason, people will make sure to remind you of them constantly) but there is only one that I should focus on : I WANT TO DO IT!

What about you? Have you ever dream of taking a break? If yes, what is keeping you from doing it?

M.