For These, I'd Forfeit

3 years ago, if anyone had asked me to give up 3 months’ of my salary, I would tell that person to have his/her head examined. It was, therefore, very surprising for me to voluntarily request for 3 months’ unpaid leave from January to March early this year.  

I have never had more than a month gap between jobs. Whenever there was any long break back in my schooling and undergraduate days, I would recklessly grab almost any temporary job that was available, ranging from being a salesgirl in a gift shop to being a telemarketer in a hotel suite. I had always thought that I would eventually become bonkers if I were to stay at home for too long a time. Now, a decade later, I beg to differ.

Some time last year, my work life got way out of hand that I felt compelled to tender my resignation letter. My mind had become too muddled and I desperately needed a rest. A few friends and colleagues concluded that I was suffering from a severe burnout. In retrospect, it must have been the works of divine intervention that the Senior Management and I settled for a break instead. I wasn’t totally averse to the idea since it guaranteed me with a job to return to.

If I had given more thought to the idea of forfeiting 3 months’ salary though, I probably would not have had enough guts to do it. Nonetheless, I would definitely say that decision was worthwhile, for not only was I able to maintain my sanity, but I was also able to do these 6 things:

#6 Initiating this blog

As a kid, I had secretly dreamed of being a writer or a columnist. Somewhere along the way, I was told that writers will always be poor and ill-fed. Well, no one told me that being a lecturer would be even more pathetic! Anyhow, it was during the break that I had the opportunity to explore the world of blogging. I was even able to learn how to stitch photos together in a collage. Not bad for a non-tech savvy individual.

If not for the break, I wouldn’t have had time to write. A case in point, there hasn’t been any posts here ever since I returned to work, this being the first after an absence of 1.5 months.

#5 Learning how to cook

One of the things on my bucket list is to learn how to cook like my mom. While my skills are still miles away from my mom’s, I managed to put a few dishes together during the 3 months. Again, not too bad for someone whom my mom would normally kick out of her kitchen.

CNY snacks

 

A few dishes which were edible and caught on camera

#4 Driving for a long distance

Yet another skill that I managed to pick up during the break was long-distance driving. Before this, the furthest I have ever driven to was Port Dickson. I am neither the most skillful nor the most careful driver and driving with a stick is not the easiest thing on earth, too. Yet, within three months, I had driven to Malacca and Penang on two separate trips.

Malacca Trip

Penang Trip

One small step for mankind, one giant leap for Lilian Leong, indeed. One thing’s for sure, Penang is really really really far away if you have to drive all the way there…

#3 Travelling, experiencing a new culture, and learning a new language

At the end of January, my family and I took an eye-opening trip to Japan. It was a whole new culture there altogether. Prior to our trip, I picked up a few Japanese words so as to communicate with the locals when we were there.

I now know how to ask for directions to the toilet and elevators. I also know whether the meat that is served in front of me is chicken, beef, pork, or prawn. Just by listening intently to the announcement on the train, I will know whether the train door will open on the left or the right. And if I were attracted to a guy, I know how to ask if he was gay just to be sure we are on the same page.

#2  Learning to budget and allowing others to extend their kindness

One very humbling experience was learning to only purchase things within my own means and giving in to other people’s kindness. Even though I may usually draw a rather dismal income, I always had enough to pay for my own expenses (with a lil extra to splurge once in a blue moon). In fact, because I used to work while studying, I was privileged to play the more generous part and to treat my friends whenever we go out. This habit stayed even after my friends started earning way more than I did. Needless to say, it felt odd to eventually let someone else pick up my bill instead.

While I still managed to pay for my installments and insurance policies as well as the usual allowance for the house, I no longer fought for the bill if someone else offered to pay. During the three months’ break, I had also downgraded some of my usual purchases. I am proud to say that I did not need to touch my fixed deposit or to borrow money from anyone else. 

#1 Spending time with family and loved ones

Of all the blessings I had received during these months, I guess this would be the most meaningful and precious. When I was working, I hardly had any time for myself, let alone to spend time with my family members and loved ones. With nowhere particular to head to, I could finally make myself available whenever a family member or a friend needed me.

Yes, I truly enjoyed the time I was able to catch up with friends and relatives but I guess it was even more crucial that I was there in times of need. I was able to accompany a cousin who had to undergo a surgery, to be there for my aunt and her family when my uncle passed away suddenly, to visit a church-mate who became paralyzed after a stroke, to hang out with my cousin who came back from UK, and just to laugh and create more wonderful memories with my family members and friends.

Would I do the same again? Hmm … forfeiting 3 months’ salary is no joke on the pocket but if it means I get to keep my sanity and repeat the things mentioned above, I might just do it again, though not so soon.