Leslie woke up one morning, went in to work and said to her boss, “I need a break, I’m going to take several months off”. As a full time anesthesiologist she put aside concerns of what her absence would do to the busy OR schedule or the pinch her colleagues would experience being on call. What she knew (for sure) was that she was fatigued, her mind was distracted, her body was rebelling and she had never taken an extended break from work in her over twenty year career.

In this episode of Black Boomer Besties from Brooklyn Leslie describes to her Bestie Angella what it felt like to direct her caring spirit inward- to wake up late without her usual to-do list, spend time with friends and loved ones, travel and contemplate what retirement might actually feel like.On her first day back to the operating room Leslie immediately felt back at home and recalled why medicine is truly her calling. Her time away from the demands of doctoring showed her that she really missed being away and that balancing a busy career with personal well-being is not only possible but essential. She could certainly see herself moving toward retirement- just no time soon.

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