My Sabbatical @ Life

You may (or may not) have noticed that my LinkedIn job status has recently been updated with a new job title called “Sabbatical” and my company is "Life." Many have asked me, “What exactly is a sabbatical and what on earth are you doing?” and "Esi, I've never known you as someone who'd stop working!"

The word Sabbatical is defined as “an extended period of leave from work or a break often lasting from 2 months to a year especially for rest, to acquire new skills or training, etc.", with historical origins in the Bible where God literally rested after creating the universe and in agriculture where the land was given a rest every 7th year. 

After 25 years at P&G climbing the corporate ladder, 2+ years of Coty Merger planning and execution, extensive global travel, and split family with young kids (7 and 11) I decided I needed a timeout to reassess my life, purpose, priorities, and to simply take a break to recharge my batteries -- my Sabbatical@Life. 

So what have I been up to?

So far my sabbatical has been all that I expected and more. The past 6 months I have been:

1) Spending quality time with my family and young children. I longed to spend more time with them while I was working and traveling. We all traveled to Asia in Hong Kong, Philippines, and Cambodia, Africa (Dubai and Mauritius), and many places around Europe and Switzerland in anticipation of our move back to the US. 

2) Networking and Connecting. I've had the pleasure of investing more time in rebuilding relationships with friends and colleagues with whom I'd lost touch, and meeting lots of wonderful new people and building new relationships. 

3) Making New York our new home. After 8 years, we packed up and moved the family from Geneva to New York, USA! We downsized and moved into an apartment, the kids started at different new schools, and are taking on the city! The Big Apple is all that it promises-- stimulating, diverse, with access to anything and everything. 

4) Challenging Myself in New Ways. I've taken on new mental, spiritual, and physical challenges including training for the NY Marathon taking place November 5th, 2017. 

The NYC Marathon

When I started planning for my sabbatical this past Spring and the move to New York, one of the first things I decided to do (aside from spending more time with the kids) was to run the New York marathon again (I did it back in 2013). I knew it would be a great mental and physical challenge and a great way to embrace my status as a New Yorker and become a part of the city. I've also decided to fundraise for the Central Park Conservatory. 

Throughout my years of visiting NYC, I've always enjoyed and appreciated Central Park -- my occasional runs when visiting, attending the great festivals and concerts, and more of what the park has to offer throughout the year. 

Now that I've been living in New York for the past couple of months and have been training for the marathon, I can't tell you how much I LOVE LOVE LOVE Central Park. It is simply a piece of heaven dropped in the middle of the City. 

Despite the difficulty of the parks rolling hills, the beauty of vibrancy of the park invigorates me. 

The 26.2-mile race is November 5th, less than six weeks away! I'm e 26.2 miles (45.2 km). I'm not breaking any records -- my daughter says my pace looks more like walking than running -- but I'm committed to crossing that finish line! 

As I count down to the marathon, I ask you to join me in my cause to raise $3000 for the Central Park Conservatory. Any amount -- big or small is appreciated. To get in the spirit of the 26.2 miles, you can donate $26.20, $262, or even $2620 if you're feeling exceptionally generous ;-) Again, any amount is so appreciated and will go a long way to keep the park thriving. You can donate by clicking on the following link  https://bit.ly/2xwXE1Q .

Also note that I’m running with two other wonderful ladies - Kelli Richardson Lawson (2nd marathon), and Teneshia Jackson Warner (1st timer). Our team is called Joy Works and we’re all running in support of Central Park, hoping to run the whole race with a smile. 

What's Next?

Lots of possibilities. Priority #1 is continuing to get the kids settled in NY. Although I will not end my sabbatical before next year, I'm looking forward to seeing what unfolds!

Esi