Taken from Google Image search
I recently decided to take a break from school. Around this time a year ago I did the same. I’m thinking that, regardless of how long it takes me to finish, I’ll take a nice long break from school around the solstice each winter season. I’m finding that this kind of pause is really healing.
Last year I had only been at my current company for about 2 months when this time of the year came and I was about to have to really step up my performance – I was exiting the training period and was about to have to fly quite solo. Anyone who knows me, knows that if I receive a letter grade under the equivalent of something around 96%, I freak out, so I decided to step away from studies while my work demanded so much of me. Once that time had passed, I resumed my studies.
The time since then (almost a full year) has been a time of great growth. Professionally, I managed to impress my way out of a position I should have been stuck in for at least a year – in less than a year – and moved to a new department. THEN, within three months of that transition, I managed to find my way into further specialized usefulness. And so here we are, a year from my last break, and I’m entering another – for pretty much the same reasons.
This weekend will be a special one for me. Saturday is not only the winter solstice, but also this month’s Sankashti (tonight is the full moon). I plan to use this time to pull within – to retreat a bit. I’ve mentioned a couple times already that I’ve recently come upon some realizations that will mean some changes for me, and this will likely be an auspicious time to sort some of that out more.
I’m no longer spending my weekends working on folks’ heads at the spa. As of yesterday I don’t have to worry about school for a few months. Pretty much all of our Xmas shopping is done AND wrapped. Nobody’s in the hospital. It’s a nice, and fitting, time to just “chill” – and the perfect season to do so.
This winter break of mine (as of two consecutive years now) is something I think all should do to the best of their ability. It fits into the natural dance of things for this part of the world during this time of the year. Water is freezing. Trees have dropped their leaves. Animals are (mostly) hibernating. Humans would do well to follow suit as best we’re able.
Chill out. Withdrawl a bit. Go within and start (already, yes!) assessing the seeds of yourself that you want to survive the harsh winter and manifest in the spring.
Aum Shri Mahaganeshaya Namaha
Aum Shanti
Sthapati Samanvayam 