My Vested Sabbatical: How Paris’ Motto Became Mine
Taking three months off from a rapidly growing, decorated career in my twenties is something I never imagined. Those who know me know I am fiercely dedicated to the profession and my work, striving for excellence and going the extra mile each time. The thought of taking a break felt like the opposite of progress; it felt stifling. Still, I decided to leap.
On the eve of my sabbatical, after months of planning, my trip felt incomplete, having intentionally declined to plan each destination in advance. Instead, I turned my reality on its head and changed my approach to everything. I opted to live in a city where I spoke a non-native tongue, notorious for its exclusivity and unique culture. I lived and traveled alone on a new continent for many weeks, engaging with new people and communities that are often labeled undesirable. I knew that to change my perspective on the world, I had to change my approach and reinvent how I navigated it, starting with my sabbatical.
The start of my sabbatical began with strangers, from all walks of life and across the US, meeting in Rome, Italy, for a great adventure around the Mediterranean Sea. Over the course of three weeks, I traveled with acquaintances who became friends through northern Italy, across Monaco, and through the South of France, finishing in Barcelona. On the Italian coast, I was formally introduced to La Dolce Vita, or “the sweet life”. In summary: do the work you need to and enjoy/leave the rest. It’s taking time for yourself and others, while also remembering to pour into your community. It was something that needed to be seen in practice and felt, in order to stick with me and stay.
In work and in life, it’s easy to let emotions and distractions cloud our sense of reality. Everyone in the world faces problems, but how they are dealt with is the defining factor. Being alone with this new ‘dolce vita’ allowed me to not only absorb the methods but hone them to be utilized in the future. During the rest of my time and in my return to work from sabbatical, I’ve kept this sweet calm with me, letting the rest I can’t control roll off my back, allowing me to be a stronger leader and professional.
When venturing from Barcelona to Paris with my newfound sense of sweetness in life, I began reciting French phrases to myself, eager to immerse myself in the culture. Three days into a month-plus-long stay, and I’d gotten my bearings. I was able to speak with cashiers, waitresses, hosts, grocers, and cab drivers, living my life all in French!
During my extended stay, I became genuinely ingrained in the culture, staying home on Sundays, taking multi-hour lunches, and cooking often. In Paris, I learned how to just be. I wasn’t a ‘New Yorker’, I wasn’t a financial publicist, I wasn’t running from one organization or club to the next, I was just myself with no agenda. It’s incredibly rare to have the time as a young person to exist with no expectations, and it changed me profoundly.
By the end of my stay, I had adopted Paris’ motto: “Fluctuat nec mergitur.” The Latin phrase translates in modern French to Elle est agité par les vagues, et/mais ne sombre pas, or in English, “She is rocked by waves, and/but does not sink.” It resonated deeply with me as I’ve navigated an intense career landscape amid a backdrop of great personal loss, living in a sea of expectations. My time in Paris reminded me of who I am and the strength and light that I bring to those around me, and that I, too, have not sunk.
Interestingly, speaking French for weeks on end altered my English. Both my spoken and written communication saw my filler words vanish, and I got to the point much more quickly. Navigating dialects made me focus on the most effective words to convey the greatest meaning. It changed how I think about word choice, benefitting me unexpectedly as a writer and a publicist.
This sabbatical also gave me time to continue my work in the New York City community through The Bowery Mission, amid a pause on SNAP benefits and increased food insecurity. Serving over 25 hours, I found community in my own community. I now know many of the local faces and names of those who are underserved, as well as those who regularly give back at every opportunity. Cultivating community and centering selflessness during my sabbatical has made my life richer and me more empathetic. Feeding over 300 people at each meal also requires teamwork and focus under tense situations. It has inadvertently allowed me to practice deeper tolerance and patience, and improve my communication skills with my teammates, even when I was stressed myself.
Most of all, this experience gave me the gift of independent growth and perspective. Professionals seldom have the opportunity to recharge and let their minds rewire. Just as you get up to take a walk or break while working, preparing for professional longevity should be the same. The work we do at Vested for some of the world’s largest and most brilliant financial institutions requires us to seek new perspectives, take steps back to think, and adjust our processes and efficiency. It’s been a privilege to return with renewed brightness and vigor to continue doing amazing work.
Learn more about the Vested sabbatical program here.
