On my early morning walk yesterday, I watched a jogger stop mid-gait to stare at a turtle crossing the two lane road in our neighborhood. This is the turtle’s job – to crawl slowly from place to place. But Mr. Turtle hadn’t picked a great time of day to start this challenge. With a good 90% of the journey ahead, Mr. Turtle would encounter the morning traffic, including school buses (ooooohhh, lots of wheels). Plus, confronting this asphalt would take a long time.
The jogger appr
oached the turtle slowly, then used two hands to lift the turtle and walk him to the other side of the road. The turtle’s short limbs flailed the whole way (it didn’t tuck them into it’s shell).
The jogger returned to the other side of the road and resumed his run. And when I got to the place where the turtle now plowed unhurriedly through the grass towards the woods, I thought, “Lucky you, Mr. Turtle. You just got a career break.” (Here’s a great YouTube video of a turtle’s career break.)
You might not see it as a career break. But consider this: Mr. Turtle was lifted out of his job and given an extra 2.5 hours to do more of what he wants in his long life. He might have used that time to perch on a floating log in the pond up ahead, where he could think great turtle-thoughts in the noon-day sun; perhaps, he would join up with like-minded friends for a turtle triathlon, hoping to improve his skills so he could be better at his job in the future.
For each of us, there’s always the possibility that someday we’ll be lucky like Mr. Turtle and a benefactor’s actions gives us time out from our jobs and careers. That’s about as likely as Sandra Bullock taking her husband back . Actually, it’s up to us to negotiate a sabbatical in our next job, look for employers with sabbatical programs (check out yourSABBATICAL’s list of these bold workplaces), or ask our current boss for one.
At yourSABBATICAL, our mission is for everyone to have the opportunity of a career break. If a turtle tale inspires you to think about even the idea of that – then, I’m doing good work.
5 Responses (add yours)
Man – I could’ve used a helping hand getting out of my old career and taking a break! Where’s that jogger when you need him? Great analogy Barbara!
It’s a reality show idea Sherry. People are plucked from their careers and given the opporunity of a career break. Audience follows the joy,agony, challenges of un-structured time to the “real” sabbatical. Whatcha think?
Love the idea Barbara!
Funny – Michaela and I had actually talked about pitching a reality tv show about career breaks…I personally think it would work – kind of Amazing Race meets Apprentice!
Man – I could’ve used a helping hand getting out of my old career and taking a break! Where’s that jogger when you need him? Great analogy Barbara!