Dear Friends,

If there is anything I learned on my sabbatical it is that I wish I would have taken one sooner. At the risk of sounding like reformed smokers do when they stop smoking and start preaching to everyone else to stop, I'm here to tell each of you to schedule a sabbatical. For some of you, just the thought of it may send you running for the rafters screaming, "I can't do that.....you just don't understand my situation!" Well I have to say that if I can do it ANYBODY can!

First, let me share the virtues and benefits that I received. I:

* allowed my body to slow down and stop running on adrenaline
* began to notice where I was NOT being present and I thought I was
* gave Chelsea a proper send off to college
* enjoyed August sunny weather and all the water sports available at that time
* completed a few home projects that had languished for years
* was contributed to by Hilary and other alumni who "kept the plane flying" really well
* addressed my health problems (headaches and plantar fasciitis) so that both have dramatically reduced in pain and frequency

I have much to be grateful for and encourage each of you to give yourself that gift by the end of 2006. I recommend 30 days (or more) but at least two weeks with absolutely NO work responsibilities whatsoever.

I was also humbled by my body's autonomy in the face of my sheer will power! When I would tell it to stop emitting painful headaches it would ignore me. When I would create a new context called, 'life is effortless and free from pain,' it would ignore me. Only when I physically slowed way down, meditated, breathed deeply, watched the committee in my head and didn't try to change it, did I begin to notice a shift. My compulsion to DO rather than just BE kept throwing me off center. Gradually, after about ten days of practicing slowness, my body began to respond. It didn't need much food (I've lost 22 pounds in the past several months), it loved fresh air and sunshine, and I really started 'smelling the roses' again. What a tremendous learning experience.

My health is definitely on the mend and while I still have some practices and medications to address the headaches and plantar fasciitis, I feel great and am on my way to full recovery! It 'takes a village' to sustain a leader and I feel like I belong to the best village of all. Thank you for all the personal notes of love and support.

Hilary, Catherine Parrish (my WLC co-leader) and I have just returned from Women Leading Change in Honolulu and it was AWESOME. The diversity of participants and especially the presence of the Hawaiian culture made for both a magical and transformative experience. We will be returning to Honolulu in September 2006 and hope that you and/or your colleagues can join us!

Helen is back from maternity leave and has pictures of both kids peppered around her office. Her new baby girl is smart and gorgeous and the apple of her big brother's eye. Children remind us why the work of IWL is so important for future generations.

I will be sending out a message via our Yahoo group email list in the future to share with you the changes planned for IWL in 2006. My sabbatical gave me some important reflection time to clarify vision, goals, partnerships, etc. that will all be a part of our future.

I'm excited to announce a new opportunity - our one-day ELSC preview session scheduled for December 15 in Palo Alto, CA. This is a program for executive women in corporations or business owners to 'sample' the Executives Leading Sustainable Change which will be held in February 2006. Go here for more information and please invite appropriate friends or colleagues. The community of executive women that is forming a sustainable network of support is truly inspiring!

So until I speak with you again, thanks for your friendship, thanks for your partnership and thanks for making the world a better place because of your leadership.

Love and gratitude,

Rayona Sharpnack
CEO and founder
Institute for Women's Leadership