Thoughts on Sabbatical
One of the many beautiful Costa Rican beaches
I’m about three weeks into my first ever four month sabbatical and have been reflecting on the miracles or gifts of this time. I know much will change and continue to evolve over the weeks and months but for now what I’m most grateful for is the slowness of time, the ability to truly take in the joys and miracles of the simplest things- like ants working furiously to carry pieces of leaves somewhere, the daily setting of the sun over the ocean, the sounds of crickets or other singing insects at night, the lack of schedules, morning alarms and goals and the precious stress free time with loved ones.
What do we do with time and are we filling it with things that truly matter?
A word that keeps coming back to me as I indulge in the heat of Costa Rica & settle into the concept of sabbatical - is languid – the disinclination for physical exertion or effort, to be slow and relaxed. The heat and the culture just slow one down, no matter how much an Endurance athlete may resist!
I’m grateful for my full life at home and like many people in the U.S. work hard to find balance between the driven, hard working, achievement based, accomplishment valuing, competitive culture that exists there and having down time to reflect, recuperate and spend time with loved ones. There is something life-affirming that happens with travel to a place that one is unfamiliar with. When we strip ourselves from our daily schedules, routines and environment. I’m hoping to continue to dig deeper into this experience and hope that whatever comes up in this process will refresh and re-energize the next steps for Endurance and our work with clients.
I also know how difficult it was to decide to take four months away from being physically present at Endurance, but it was so necessary. Maggie Krier, LMFT and Dr. Carey Shaffer continue to see clients and other wonderful non- Endurance colleagues stepped up willingly to cover our clinical work. Additionally, our wonderful clinical administrator and Kenya travel manager, Loyce and our web designer/media specialist, Pius continue to manage all of the other important details of our work. I couldn’t ask for a better team!
I trust and hope that you are well. We are still gearing up for our June 2016 trip to Kenya and have a few more spaces for anyone else who would like to travel and have new, life-changing experiences. We will be sending more updates about our clinical openings and family programs in the next few months. For now, I wish you safety, peace, health and love.
Take care,
Cory Nyamora
The word sabbatical, derived from the Sabbath- a day of religious observance and abstinence from work.
