I had what I would term a career blow yesterday. I work my a** off at work, technology field, I have a team or people I am responsible for, I have a revenue number I am responsible for. I realized yesterday when I found out that I was not going to get promoted that all the hardwork get's to continue on as it is today, under a new boss who will "run" the business...that I am tired. For over a year now I have been trying to be an understanding and compasionate wife while trying to build a name for myself in the field I am in...I work d**n hard at both and what in a matter of a week I have learned is that you don't always get what you think you want. I am getting divorced and I get to remain middle management. I was soured yesterday, sad, frustrated and most of all relieved. I know I need a vacation. But what I really need is to let go of all of this. Constantly living for tomorrow...hoping that if I am nice to my H he will love me tomorrow, if I work 80 hours a week that I will get the promotion...it's never going to happen. <BR>I taught a class when I was a High School Teacher about free will (I had to teach the Bible as literature....don't even go there...)I of course being the modern day teacher, brought in Star Wars, good and evil, free will or fate... For some reason this time in my life (when I taught this lesson to my HS seniors) keeps coming back to me...so much that while at a concert, who is sitting ahead of me...but Mr. Lucas himself...I have felt that I had to do these things...that it was my duty to my husband and our life. I am starting to think differently. I have always been the one to extend the olive branch. To make the tough choices, to be the rock. I need to rest...this rock has been chisled a lot and it is time that I sit on the beach and listen. <BR>Has anyone here taken a leave of absence, quit their job, taken a sabatical? If so did it prove to be helpful...insightful, restful?<BR>I have no kids...so I have no worries...it's just me...

Since my husband took off--the workplace has been a goatrope for me.<P>My last year in the army was miserable. I was in a very "highly visible" job working with some high ranking people. These were times were I was ducking into the bathroom to cry periodically. Forgetting things. Loosing things. You get the picture. Not good.<P>And then now. . .I have to work, or course, I am the breadwinner. But I started this job after D-Day, and man oh man, was it ever hard to apply myself to learn a new trade! (I work in photo in a semiconductor fab.) Luckily, I have never misprocessed anything. God has me in the hollow of his hand. But I have gone home in tears, had heart-to-hearts with the supervisor, *almost* busted up product and machines, had it out with co-workers. I was as nervous as a cat in a room full of rocking chairs. Trying to sort out your personal life while working, having a devestating event on your mind 24/7 while trying to concentrate--it's so hard. <P>To answer your question--yes! Take a vacation! So many of us here, many of us who are single parents now that CAN'T do that, would love to do exactly this. Seems like many of us need to.<P>Refresh yourself--then get back into the swing of things. We'll all be jealous.

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by cpickel:<BR><B>Has anyone here taken a leave of absence, quit their job, taken a sabatical? If so did it prove to be helpful...insightful, restful?</B><HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>Plan it. Places that are meaningful and not just fun. You don't have to motorcycle across China or anything, but it would be disappointing if it involved interstate highways, tour groups, and international-chain hotels. Better it's blue highways, bed & breakfasts, culture, spirituality, authentic cuisine.<P>Start with a beach. JFK said we all came from the sea and we're all going back there.<P>

Hi,<BR>I came very,very close to quitting grad school. I wasn't performing up to standards I could feel good about, couldn't see the light at the end of the tunnel, and pretty much hated where I was living because this is where my marriage ended (long story). Mostly I felt an obligation to my advisor, to allow him to choose another grad student because I didn't feel like I was cutting it.<P>Fortunately for me, I was able to explain this to my boss (my advisor) and he was very patient with me. I am very grateful that he gave me the time to get back on my feet. It turns out that my performance hadn't been all that terrible (but just not up to my almost impossibly high standards). <P>Being in school has given me the flexibility I needed at this time in my life. I don't know what I would have done if I had to punch a clock 8-5 in a normal work environment back then. If you have the resources, I'd definately advise taking a leave of absence, maybe even an educational leave if you can manage it. My old company had me on educational leave for almost two years!