Let’s talk about leaps of faith. Not the little bunny hops, but the full-on if he did it before, he’ll do it again, type of leaps. The kind of leaps that make your family and friends look at you like, you good? Yeah, that leap of faith.

So, here’s the tea: I’m taking a three-month sabbatical. You heard me! Three whole months. I’m hitting pause on the hustle, stepping away from the grind, and diving headfirst into whatever God got for me.

Why? Listen, for the past few years, I’ve felt overwhelmed, bearing a weight God never intended me to carry. I was praying, meditating, and still feeling like there was more. More to life, more to me, more to my purpose. From navigating my career to living a life polar opposite of what I prayed for at 35, and the election of Agent Orange, I needed to breathe.

Let’s be real, taking a sabbatical is a privilege. Especially as a Black woman because we’re conditioned to be strong and resilient, to keep fighting, to keep sacrificing our well-being for everyone else, to pour even when we have nothing left to give.

Some folks might call it selfish or reckless. Yes, I’m unemployed. No, I don’t have a job to go back to. Yes, I’ve stepped away from familial responsibilities. Yes, some of my family and friends struggled with my decision. But I know this is a leap of faith. I know there’s a purpose in this pause.

This isn’t just a vacation. This is a spiritual journey. This is about having unlimited time to connect with God and live my life fully and freely. It’s about remembering that I am more than my productivity. I am a child of God, a vessel of divine love, and I deserve to experience the fullness of life.

But don’t get it twisted. I will be living my best life as well! I’m kicking off my sabbatical in France, eating all the pastries, drinking wine, going to the opera, attending festivals, exploring markets, taking in fashion, and doing a few touristy things. Then, I’ll be off to Spain for a month and spending the last month in Italy.

And you know what? I’m not apologizing for taking this time for myself. I’m not apologizing for prioritizing my well-being. I’m not apologizing for listening to the call of my soul. This sabbatical is a radical act of self-love. Because this sabbatical isn’t just for me; it’s for my mother, grandmothers, aunts, cousins, friends, and ancestors. It’s for every Black woman who’s ever felt like she had to carry the weight of the world on her shoulders. It’s a reminder that we are worthy of rest, worthy of joy, worthy of freedom.

No matter who you are, I invite you to join me on this journey as I reclaim my time, my life, my purpose, and my passions. And I encourage you to honor your needs and take more leaps of faith.

With love,

Briah.