Taking a break

by Lisa Seppala, MBA, BComm, ACC, PHS (Adv Cert)

About a month ago, I spent a few days on the western side of Vancouver Island, visiting the wild beaches between Tofino and Ucluelet. It was winter storm season, and I’d never seen waves that size in my life. I was in awe of the sheer power of the waves and the fact that people have found a way to live, work and thrive in an area that’s beautiful, daunting, and sometimes scary.

Many things amazed me during this trip, such as:

• The squat Amphitrite Point Lighthouse, built in 1915 to withstand gale-force winds, tidal waves, and tsunamis
• The massive pieces of driftwood lining the beaches
• The flat hardness and beautiful wave patterns of the beach sand
• The rugged and stunted trees, shaped in growth by the wind and salt air
• The winding narrow highway to access the area
• The lone surfer heading out to ride the waves on Long Beach (you’ve got to be kidding me – where is your surfing buddy?)
• The way the water seems to rise from the shore to meet the horizon when you’re standing on a beach looking out at the ocean (it’s all about perspective, my friend).

What was also amazing was that I took time away from my multiple business projects and day-to-day obligations and spent a few days with my husband and a lifelong friend, who was visiting Vancouver Island for the first time. As a small business owner whose business is contract work, it’s hard to justify taking time off when busy.

That said, I finally did what I recommend my clients do “take a break, get away, and clear your head”. Life is not all about work. You can take a break, and you don’t have to feel guilty about it. In addition to feeling invigorated and ready to return to business, you might come back awestruck.