My Sabbatical Launch: A Journey of Writing, Healing, and Resting

After 11 years of being a professor, I finally have the privilege of going on sabbatical. Most people ask me: “What major project do you plan to work on during that time?” To which I have honestly been answering: “Myself!” I am going to focus on myself because I am tired. But why am I so tired, and how did I get to this point? Using “select” journal entries over my 11 years, I share my pedagogical and personal evolution and learning about the professoriate and about myself. This commentary offers insights into how current scholars and emerging scholars might navigate the academy, its demands, and their own self-expectations. And in reading it, hopefully you will identify and implement your own strategies for how to profess while being healthy and whole.