Sabbatical June

This is the first time in my life I voluntarily took a break in my career of course apart from the pregnancy timeout.. I remember even then I was raring to go back to office. I was so confused about my identity back then. As a new mom I was torn apart between the thoughts of being with my kid and the career which I so passionately built. I cried for days (not knowing it was postpartum depression), what saved me then was ample amount of reading. I read a lot of books and I stumbled upon LEAN In. Right book at the right time. I realized that I can have it all only if I understand my priorities right. I started deprioritizing things that can be delegated if I can spare some money. I don't need to do all the physical and mental work. I delegated the routine mundane tasks that drain out my energy making me frustrated and less focus on my kid and work. I felt at peace. I had plenty of time and energy at hand. I used to be a super clean freak before. Every day I used to clean up the house. It made sense in good old days when people used to come to your house and you love to show off. But then with time I realized that all the cleaning can be reduced if you put things back in place right away or have a planned time to clean up. There are many tiny things that help you out to keep your peace. I would nudge all the women out there to try and delegate, yes no one can do the job as perfect as you can but sometimes something is better than nothing. One more good comment I heard from one of my seniors when I vented out my frustration with my career, is "your children won't even remember your sacrifices, do what you need to do and do what is right. Don't let others play with your emotions. It's your life and you need to design it." So very apt. Of course everyone out there will have something or the other to say about anything. They are not living your life, nor will sail with you in your journey so don't let them get to ur brain.

Now coming to the break, it's very important to take time out for yourself and your family sometimes because rest of the world will figure out to move on without you while your world will stand still without you. You are more needed in your world than the one around you. I spent countless hours talking to friends and being there for them, I missed out on doing it for me. I always ignored what is going on with me, my physical and mental health. I ignored too much but then I came across one friend who developed a skill during his sabbatical, that piqued my interest. Wow I thought why didn't I never dared to take that sabbatical. I could have done a lot. I aas so busy running around that I didn't stop and think. Well now I did take the break but for my family to support when in need. If I think I can put it to many uses but what better than being around for family. That's what makes you family right. I remember my dad always said that you need to be one for all and all for one, in his own way he wants to bind us together and may this is this how family bonds. The world will move on and I can play catch up later but for now, I am at pause.