In January 2009, Noni Allwood left her employer of 13 years to take a career break. An executive with a major Fortune 500 company, Allwood’s time was consumed with all matter of corporate and community responsibilities including speaking engagements, boards, councils, and task forces. Walking away from all of that, Allwood describes the initial stage of her sabbatical as a time to ‘detach and detox.’
“I learned to wake up to a blank calendar, learned to introduce myself with no title, learned to comfortably answer the question: ‘What do you do?’ I learned to describe myself without a job,” she said. “What a challenge!”
Leaving her corporate responsibilities behind, Allwood sought out volunteer work-the kind that didn’t involve sitting on a board. “I have been serving meals, cleaning the floor, re-filling coffee pots, stirring soup, handing out food bags, and doing whatever it took to reconnect me with my humanity and restore my humility” she said.
Next, Allwood took steps to strengthen herself both physically and spiritually. She got a personal trainer, started going to church, and took trips to visit family and friends in El Salvador and Spain. Allwood was also available to help her partner through some expected health issues, focusing on him during his recovery.
Five months later, Allwood is not only feeling refreshed, but has also come to realize that what started as a ‘work and job’ journey, has become a larger undertaking focused on the whole self. She is asking herself, “What are my true aspirations and passions? What kind of work would I never want to quit?” And as opportunities to re-engage with work begin to surface, Allwood is making decisions with a fresh mind and a deep commitment to true personal satisfaction.
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