# How to take a sabbatical (and not go insane)

*Hello friends! It's been a while! You likely signed up for this after
reading [one of my essays on
Medium](https://medium.com/@SeanBlanda?utm_source=Blanda&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=how-to-take-a-sabbatical-and-not-go-insane)
or seeing something on
[Twitter](http://twitter.com/seanblanda?utm_source=Blanda&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=how-to-take-a-sabbatical-and-not-go-insane).
I send this thing every few months, mostly a wrap-up of stuff I'm
working on, thinking about, and the best reading from around the web —
all ending with a sweet flag. See past issues here. Now, to the
newsletter:*\
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![some tacos from Mexico City. Mmmmm...
tacos](../images/143efb92731f.png)*Above: I recently visited Mexico City
with the goal to order as many tacos as possible. Above are the
“que-sotote” (Chile relleno, cheese, shrimp) tacos that I thought were
the best in the city. Currently accepting all Mexican food suggestion in
any city.*\
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Hey there! I wrote/did some things I'm proud of and I'd like you to
know!\
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**🌴[How to take a sabbatical (and not go
insane)](https://medium.com/@SeanBlanda/how-to-take-a-sabbatical-and-not-go-insane-dc769b68897a?utm_source=Blanda&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=how-to-take-a-sabbatical-and-not-go-insane)** 🌴-
In 2016-2017 I took 6 months off to travel and explore both the world
and my possible next career options. Before I went, I hunted for books,
blog posts, and videos about how to make best use of this time and what
I could expect. The results were... underwhelming.\
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So I spoke to some other people who also took a sabbatical to put
together a little guide. If you're thinking of taking a trip like that,
[this is for
you](https://medium.com/@SeanBlanda/how-to-take-a-sabbatical-and-not-go-insane-dc769b68897a?utm_source=Blanda&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=how-to-take-a-sabbatical-and-not-go-insane).
It is the post I wish existed when I took my sabbatical.\
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Some lessons:\
- You won’t do this alone. Much of your progress will come through
people.\
- Be ready for "the thrash"\
- You may have the instinct to plan this like a vacation. Don’t do
that.\
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[Read the entire post on Medium,
here](https://medium.com/@SeanBlanda/how-to-take-a-sabbatical-and-not-go-insane-dc769b68897a?utm_source=Blanda&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=how-to-take-a-sabbatical-and-not-go-insane).
(and give it a clap or two!)\
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**❤️[My dead dad’s journal: How I finally met a man I knew for my entire
life](http://seanblanda.com/my-dead-dads-journal-how-i-finally-met-a-man-i-knew-for-my-entire-life/?utm_source=Blanda&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=how-to-take-a-sabbatical-and-not-go-insane) **❤️ -
My dad passed away in August 2017 at the age of 54. Right after he died,
I found his journal. This is a post I wrote about learning things about
his inner life that I never knew when he was alive and reconciling that.
I wrote this one from the heart and I hope you like it (and if your dad
is still around, be sure to give him a hug).\
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🚨[**Professional update for my editorial
nerds**](http://seanblanda.com/i-work-for-the-site-with-the-funny-name-a-year-in-review/?utm_source=Blanda&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=how-to-take-a-sabbatical-and-not-go-insane) 🚨-
March marked a year at my gig at GrowthLab. I took some time to provide
some of things we're up to building this publication from the ground up.
In short: we're building a business based solely around direct reader
payments (not ads!) that actually improves the lives of our customers.\
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\_\
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***Other things***:\
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**🗣The Discourse**, my newsletter about the way we talk to one another
has crossed 1,000 subscribers. [You can learn more and subscribe
here](http://thediscourse.email/?utm_source=Blanda&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=how-to-take-a-sabbatical-and-not-go-insane).\
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**❡ I'm working on a new event series** in Philadelphia (where I live).
The goal: to bring new ideas to Philadelphia. I'm calling it the
[Pilcrow
House](http://pilcrow.house/?utm_source=Blanda&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=how-to-take-a-sabbatical-and-not-go-insane) (better
branding coming soon!) and I'm working on the first slate of events. If
you're local and want to know more, reply to this email!\
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*🇧🇲Official newsletter flag (for now):\
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![The Bermuda Flag](../images/3de81ed57e43.png)*

This is the official flag of Bermuda, the British Overseas Territory in
the middle of the Atlantic Ocean that is roughly at the intersection if
you drew a line west from Georgia and north from Puerto Rico. It's part
of a small collection of island nation flags with the Union Jack in the
corner. You know that.\
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So let's focus on the coat of arms to the right. See that shipwreck?
It's the "Sea Venture" a ship that was dispatched in 1609 to support the
fledging English colony of Jamestown, Virginia. However, its fleet hit a
hurricane and the Sea Venture survived by running aground of some coral
reefs in the middle of the Atlantic. Turns out it those coral reefs were
surrounding Bermuda, and its sailors were the first settlers of the
island. What luck!\
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I'm glad you happened upon this newsletter dear reader like coral in a
storm. Thanks for making room in your crowded inbox,\
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\<3 Sean