Take a year off of work.

though I have wanted to do it for years. I was just afraid. I did this last year. I was laid off and couldn’t find work for a year. I’m still not working a job. I went back to school for what I really love: pottery. I love everything about it except the lack of pay and benefits.

What will happen down the road? Frankly, I don’t know. Anything could happen. I could be a huge success and never have to work a job again (I hope!). I could get sick and go broke. I could fall down a flight of stairs and die. I don’t know. But what I do know is that I have enough for today and none of us is promised anything beyond that.

About two years ago I took resigned from my high paying high stressed job. I had put up with four years of hell just to improve the life of my family. What I didn’t realize at the time was that I was doing the opposite.

My health was in jeporady, my mental healthy was on a rollcoster from the stress and my relationship with my family was falling apart.

One night while everyone slept I took out a note book and started to write. I wrote what I wanted and needed in a job, what were the pros and cons of resigning from my current job. I wrote out how I could support my family while taking a much needed break. I decided I wanted to take a break to find out what I wanted to do with my life. I worked all my life non stop without a vacation or time to find out what I really wanted to do.

I decided to give myself eight months to a year to find me.

I gave two weeks notice and trained my replacement. I left on good terms and took a month to spend some alone time with my husband.

I started taking time out to get myself together and listen to what my needs truely were. I signed up for a couple of temp agencies to make money off and on during this time.

I returned to writing and photography. I learned how to say no to things that I didn’t want and yes to things that will improve my life in general and not for the moment.

My mood changed, my look changed, my relationships changed and my life changed.

Towards the end of my time I waited and found a good job that pays me good and gives me the time I need to follow my own goals in life. My stress level decreased job to job about a good 75%. I am surrounded by creative people during my days at work.

That time off was one of the most worthwhile decision I ever made in my life so far. It gave me time to focus and regroup. I was able to stop going down the wrong path and get back on my path.