Why Take a Sabbatical?
From a dog's perspective
by: Tessie
Dad is on what my parents call a sabbatical, which apparently means taking a break from work. We love this sabbatical! During the week, Dad used to be in his office all day and often again after dinner, at his desk, looking at his computer. In those days, most of our fun outings had to happen on Saturdays and Sundays, but now we get to hike any day we want.
Mom runs her own business, so she can’t be completely on sabbatical like Dad, but she’s working less than usual. She gets to do something fun with us in the morning, then she teaches a yoga class and works on her computer in the afternoon.
They keep telling me not to get too comfortable with this new routine because they will have to return to more typical work schedules in the fall. That feels far off, and dogs are known for living in the present, so I’m just going to enjoy life as it is right now.
Mala already told you that we’re preparing for a big hiking adventure next week, which means we’ve been doing a lot of hiking. I’m not complaining; I love hiking and would go every day if we could. We did a long 11-mile hike on Saturday, followed by shorter outings on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Mom and Dad left us at home yesterday morning so they could go mountain biking to switch things up.
We leave on Sunday to head up to the mountains. We start our big adventure on Monday. I’m sure it’ll be lots of fun. I’m not worried at all about the distance, but Dad bought a dog rescue sling just in case they need to carry one of us during the hike. We had to try it on the day it arrived in the mail. I didn’t move a muscle while I was slung over Dad’s shoulders and hanging at his back…being still seemed like the best option in the odd contraption. We’re all hoping no one has to be transported in the sling.
People often get caught up in thinking that their work is the most important thing, but the truth is, it’s time spent doing what you enjoy with the people you love that makes life worth living. I believe everyone should take a sabbatical at some point in their adult life to spend time with their family (including the four-legged members). A dog’s life is short, and we love spending time with our humans.
Even if you can’t take three months off, you can make sure to use your vacation days or cut back on your working hours each day. We all need to relax now and then to reset and refresh. You might even find yourself more productive once you return to work after taking time to focus on your needs and wants. Maybe you’ll realize that your job no longer fulfills you, and you’ll seek something new. Or you might gain a new appreciation for what you do once you’ve stepped back from it for a while. Either way, I bet your dog would love to spend more time with you.