My Intentional Sabbatical is Ending
Why I'm no longer grieving about it and other updates
I put this message on LinkedIn this morning and got hit with bots from all directions. They were masquerading as recruiters. I felt silly for falling for it. Admittedly, it gave me a bit of an ego boost. I feel good about the message, though.
My intentional sabbatical is ending.
I used the time to both rest and to make a final attempt at becoming ridiculously independently wealthy via successful self-employment. 😎 I learned so much!
During the sabbatical, I accomplished some of my previous goals and had unexpected adventures that changed the focus of other goals or removed them entirely. I gained new skills and enhanced old ones.
Time away from traditional roles in larger companies provided great perspective and clarity. I'm great at meeting or exceeding deadlines while working with a high degree of flexibility, but I abhor traditional marketing methods and requirements to make that work lifestyle a constant reality into perpetuity.
I've also been able to help others navigate crises and deal with legal matters while working with local enforcement to help reduce crime in my neighborhood. I've become a gentle but clear advocate when navigating these things. Proofreading legal transcripts has been delicious and satisfying and will remain so as I occasionally do so on the side.
At the end of the day, though, I can't help but continue doing what I do best: helping others get unstuck while upholding accuracy, truth, and justice, especially when it involves documents and help with rewording.
I'm ready to return to the workforce and assist individuals or organizations in sharpening and enhancing their documentation projects. Staying away forever would be a disservice to those whom I can help make a more profound or stronger impact on their companies and customers.
Starting today (maybe tomorrow), I'll be doing nothing except securing gainful employment. I will remain active on Substack without pressure.
I learned during the sabbatical that I only have time for a few things during my day that I can do on an ongoing basis without burning out again.
That energy will have to be reserved for:
Working a full-time job
Very occasionally, proofreading transcripts
Exercising regularly
Focusing on my Islamic studies (mostly Quran, reading and memorization)
Publishing sporadically
I've wanted to edit and update all the video footage I've created in the last six months, but I keep getting interrupted. The same goes for the workshop.
Many in my life don't really understand how much I've accomplished in the last two years or how much I've been trying to accomplish on top of that until recently. Now, I no longer feel the need to explain it, go into details, or even brag.
I know what I'm capable of now.
I know my limits to sustain the needful things in the future.
I know how to tear it all down, start over fresh with nothing, and succeed again, if I really had to.
I'm a different person today than I was a year ago.
Is everything perfect? No. Did everything work out the way I planned? No. But I also learned that it didn't need to. Some things I thought were non-negotiable really didn't matter in the end. That's valuable feedback and information—priceless, really.
Rahila: Her stories need to be told. I'm getting there.
Islam: It's still a perfect fit for me, and I'm so grateful for it. I still feel at home in my religion and with the Quran, and I look forward to deepening my relationship with it, however personal it becomes.
Relationships: I'd still like to be married again one day to a good Muslim man who is well matched to me and with whom I can share life. But if it doesn't happen, I have plenty to keep me occupied: work, religion, neighbors, family, and friends.
Travel: Not for a while. A short trip if the van wants to behave. I cleaned it out last week. Since it's part of my daily living, I want to update my identification documents with pictures that include my headscarf. I've toyed with getting a TSA pass that lets you go through security faster, although that is not a priority.
Zettlekasten: There are two boxes now instead of one. I still have cards to file, but the previous indexing is complete.
Podcast: A couple of weeks back, one of my Uber drivers asked me if I had a podcast or if I was on the radio. "You have such a unique, calming voice. You should think about it," he said. I did not tell him about my Substack.
Ramadan: I celebrated with other Muslims in person this year for the first time. It was amazing to meet some other Muslim women. Soon, I will meet with some of them again. Happy times. More adventures?
Crime: Some crimes have decreased, and others have increased. More people have moved out of the apartments. I don't know where things will stand later on with this place.
I'm sure there are other things to update you on, but I don't remember what they are exactly at the moment. Oh, you're gonna start seeing the "Buy Me a Coffee" button on my posts. This way you can support me in amounts you're comfortable with, without being locked into a subscription.
See?
I'll end this for now. I have a job to find. 😎