Hearing the Call

Hearing the Call

Most men don’t get struck by lightning. They get worn down
by slow leaks. The call to step away doesn’t usually shout. It
whispers—at first. You notice it in the way your chest tightens
when the alarm goes off. In how your smile feels fake during
Monday meetings. In that small flash of jealousy when you see
someone else doing something bold, reckless, or free. It’s easy
to miss because it doesn’t arrive as a crisis. It shows up as a
quiet knowing.  And the longer you ignore it, the louder it gets.

I Heard It Long Before I Admitted It
Mine started while I was still clocking in and cashing checks. I
was respected, competent, a 25-year veteran in my company.
From the outside, everything worked. But inside? I felt like I
was watching my life from outside the glass. I wasn’t broken. I
wasn’t failing. I was drifting. And that, my friend, is far more
dangerous. Because when you’re drifting, you don’t crash. You
just slowly lose sight of land—until you can’t remember what
you set out for in the first place.
 

THE BOLD SABBATICAL PLAYBOOK

The Signs You’re Ready (Even If You Don’t Know It Yet)
You don’t need a breakdown to take a sabbatical. You just need
to pay attention to the truth already bubbling up. You fantasize
about quitting your job—not because you hate it, but because
you can’t remember why you started. You feel guilt about
wanting more, even though you’ve “done everything right.”
You say things like, “Once I get through this next thing...” on
repeat. You’re tired—but not the kind sleep fixes. If any of that
sounds familiar, let me be clear: And that’s fixable.
 

Not Everyone Gets This
You’ll mention needing a break and someone will say, “Must
be nice.” Let them. People who are too afraid to hear their own
call will try to muffle yours. Don’t let them. You’re not broken
for wanting more. You’re not weak for needing rest. And you’re
not selfish for stepping away. This isn’t about ditching your
responsibilities. It’s about owning your response-ability—your
ability to respond to life, with presence and power.
 

My Camino Wasn’t a Dream—It Was a Decision
I didn’t wake up one morning and decide to walk across Spain. It
started with a whisper: There’s more. This isn’t it. You need to
go. I ignored it. Then I rationalized it. Then I drowned it in work,
wine, and weekends. Until finally, I did what most men only
imagine: I said YES! And that one word unraveled everything I
thought I needed—and led me back to what I never should’ve
lost.

​

HEARING THE CALL
The Truth About Timing
You’ll never feel “ready.” You’ll always have bills, projects,
reasons to wait. But here’s what I learned the hard way: Read
that again. This moment right here—this itch, this restlessness,
this ache for something deeper—is not a problem. It’s your
compass. You’re not just burned out. You’re being called out—
by your own soul. It’s not dramatic. It’s not flaky. It’s the most
important invitation you’ll ever get.
 

Trail Marker
“The call doesn’t come when life gets quiet. It comes when you
finally do.”
Reflection Challenge
What’s one whisper you’ve been ignoring—and what’s it trying
to tell you?
Sit with it. Write it down. That’s your invitation.