a NOLA girl in a Big world

It’s a question I’ve been asked over 20 times. I’m aware, 7 weeks away from work, isn’t really a standard practice in the corporate world.

Some background. lululemon, has some pretty incredible benefits: support with workout class costs and race entry fees , a stellar discount program and comprehensive health insurance, to name a few. But when I hit year 5, I learned about the benefit of a sabbatical. Sabbaticals are offered to employees who hit 5 years and 10 years. It’s essentially, a position protected time away from work benefit. And as I inched closer to my 10 years, I knew I couldn’t pass up this opportunity to live into my 2024 goals.

2023, was the year of saying YES to my family, friends and community.

2024, is the year of saying YES to me.

Taking 7 weeks off of work is fucking terrifying. We aren’t curing cancer (I’m aware) but we are building something new. Something fun. Something impactful. Something I’m passionate about. And I like to work. I find joy in contributing to the work. So, stepping away is a bit of the antithesis of being a contributor. AND, saying YES to stepping away, allowing someone else to step in, and trusting I’ve done the work to keep my team successful, is contributing in a new way.

Having a manager who was a HELL YES for this sabbatical, is allowing me to dive head first into this experience. Christina, didn’t blink an eye when I shared I wanted to take advantage of the sabbatical benefit. She said, “Where we going?”

Having that level of support and willingness to be all in with me on a goal I set for myself to start saying YES …

… to being happy.

… to being healthy.

and to living an exciting life,

Is support we all DESERVE … not simply at work but in life.

Cheers to saying YES for the next 7 weeks and cheers to folks saying YES with me.