Many of us have the habit of doing the same thing day after day, month after month, and year after year. How many of us really ever sit back and reflect the burden of hectic life @work? How about the loss of our precious time when we got stuck in heavy traffic when commuting to work? Has it ever cross your mind of changing or renewing your life?
I found that it is not easy to change or rejunevate or renew your life when one still shows up at the office every morning, continuing to work or reply e-mails after office hours or getting calls when on vacation or on weekends. Is there a better way to rejuvenate your energy/life than putting a halt of what you are doing?
Do we need a breather ? Taking a breather in life does not mean lazing around. Some of my close buddies said it means taking a long holiday and then returning to work and continue with life as before. I would agree to this years ago, but now I absolutely disagree. Have our priorities just change as we grow older and wiser? Taking a career gap is to free the mind from work to allow deep contemplation and to ask oneself what else gives more meaning and purpose other than working.
Taking a career gap means much more than that to me. I may wish to return something back to the community through a volunteering or social activity, or perhaps returning to study something I dream of. What about develop a new skills that will enhance my ability in the future? How about devoting more time to the long-neglected family member?
But it can be a scary packing in your job and skipping off to do something completely different. There are people who will be affected by your career break --- especially when you have your family or dependents to think of. The issue of $$$ can really shut down your idea of a career break. Facing the reactions is the toughest, I think and one must be prepared to deal with remarks that "it is a silly thing to do", "is she insane!", etc. Many will try to talk you out of it. All these fears always hold people back. Negative thoughts of making a mistake that one regret later, fear that money will be wasted, worry of not being able to climb back to where you have left your career, etc, etc.
Anyway, taking a Career Gap is just like pitching any sales. You won't always expect a "Yes" immediately.
Therefore, to me when the small "Financial Cushion" is ready, just do it so that when we approach 50 or 60 years old, we don't have to say "I always wanted to do it, but I never had the chance to do it. Now it’s too late”
It is scary, but one has to deal with it especially when it appears so loud from your inner voice. After all, it just means that we have to work much harder to return to the workplace to build the financial cushion again. And who knows by then, we may have obtain a fresh perspective on life, or we may have developed new skills, broadened our personal horizons, or have made a rewarding contribution to the community....and most importantly we feel happy about it. Aren't these Precious to our Life !!
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