Breathing Deeply during a Pause

Take rest; a field that has rested gives a bountiful crop.” – Ovid

Someone once said taking a break is often the most productive thing you can do.

The last few years since COVID came on the world scene, have been the hardest ones of my life so far – both personally and professionally. Between caretaking family and my work, I’ve truly not had enough time to rest and recover (as many people have personally felt during this pandemic). So, it’s no surprise I’m finding myself in need of a pause.

When Brene’ Brown announced she was taking a summer sabbatical last May, I was both inspired and bothered at the same time. Her blog she wrote before signing off was masterful and wholehearted (to borrow a term from her amazing research), and it revealed that the “bothered” feeling I felt – was simply a deep realization, and longing. I knew

I needed to do the same.

Now we all aren’t Brene’, with bestsellers and TED talks under our belt to help fund a sabbatical. And while I totally and fully applaud her for her success, she helps so many people with her brilliant research and insight, myself included, I don’t have a “Brene’ Brown” type empire.

I’m just a mom of 3 with 2 small businesses and a long history of doing what all small business owning parents do – work like mad to make ends meet, doing whatever it takes to provide for your family and keep a roof over the heads and shoes on their (ever growing) feet.

But this summer I’ve decided to follow Brene’s wise lead, to the extent that my resources allow.

To quote Brene’ Brown:

They call it (creating space) the sacred pause in Buddhism, and it is core to my well-being…

The past couple of years have been hard—personally and professionally—and I’ve found that space closing in on itself again. My responses have started sliding too close to the stimuli. I’m tired, and the pause is suffering. I can’t let that happen to me or to our organization. We need breath and space.

To reinvest in that space, I’ve decided to take a sabbatical this summer. I’ve never done it before, and just the thought of taking off 14 weeks is anxiety-producing for someone who can struggle to take a week off.~Brene’ Brown

Granted, mine can only be 4, and I’ve also never done it – but 4 weeks is a start. A start toward respecting and honoring the “sacred pause” that I know I need in order to carry on.

This sabbatical will help me take necessary steps toward renewal, sustainable self-care, determining next best steps for the future growth of Garner Pelvic Health and Living Well Institute, and to practice the characteristics so necessary for a balanced life – to effectively communicate, to be accountable to my core values, and to live with integrity, humility, emotional intelligence, creativity, self-awareness, curiosity, flexibility, and empathy. 

“Managing our stress and our rest is a sign of living wisely. Refueling as a way to find joy, to create pleasure, and to celebrate life in the midst of all its demands fills our hearts with renewed hope. When we take the time to breathe, listen, and rest from the daily grind to see miracles bubbling up in our lives.” ― Sally Clarkson, author