Nothing in my life has been safe from my “good enough” paintbrush: health, work, relationships. I’ve settled far too many times to count. If a life do-over were in the cards, continuously accepting good enough would be fine. But I’m in my 40s, and I gotta learn this “you deserve more than you are settling…
Tag: sabbatical
Six Months Later: Thank You, Next?
Six Months? Seriously? Has it been that long since I walked out of that job with nothing on the horizon, but a trip to VMworld on the schedule? “August me” was exhausted. I never thought “burn out,” but it was. These months away have left me energized, more self-aware, and excited for the future. My…
Dear Luigi …
“Did you pay him for this, mom?” my 11-year-old asked. He wasn’t asking about the ability to be a podcast guest, but for the sage advice that Luigi doled out. Liberally. Both of my kids became convinced that Luigi Danakos (@nerdblurt) was the new life coach that I recently mentioned. He wasn’t. However, like a…
Sabbatical Month 3: The End of this Sabbatical?
Trips to Anaheim, then Las Vegas, and New York after two days at home; it all sounds pretty amazing and makes for a happy life story on Twitter, right? Here’s the real-life part, at this juncture, the only way that I could have the freedom to attend these events is by giving up $11k/month in…
Sabbatical Month 2: Embracing It All
When is the last time you didn’t feel broken and defeated at 7 PM? Two months ago, my answer would have been NEVER. However, my sabbatical has brought me this peace. My kids’ Taekwondo class has become one of my usual writing spots. This feeling of calm is well worth the price of not being…
Sabbatical Month 1: Am I Enough?
Have you ever read something that so closely aligned with your soul that when you read it, your first inclination is to raise a hand and say “preach?” While James Victore, Feck Perfuction* book inspires many of these moments for me, his “Freedom is something you take” essay feels like it was written for me…
Sabbatical Month 0: Where Joy Awaits
Anyone else quit their job right before VMworld and then self-fund most of the trip from savings? Probably only me, right? I also ignored the advice where you were supposed to have a new job before leaving your old one. I know It all sounds crazy. I wish that I could say that all of…
A Change Could Do Me Good
On Mother’s Day, my daughter yelled, “I want a nerf gun” over and over again. I responded to her demand with my list of things I wanted: a clutter-free house, a job that I love. After reaching “job that I love,” my son stopped me. “Haha, like that’s going to happen.” When I pressed him,…