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In the mid-1800s, someone coined the phrase “the three R’s” – reading, writing, and ’rithmetic – as shorthand for the foundations of education. Of course, only one of those words actually begins with “R,” but that’s part of the charm. It stuck because it captured the essentials. Before you could master Shakespeare or geometry, you had to know how to read, put words on paper, and balance a column of numbers.

That old phrase has been echoing in my mind lately as I step into a new season. After 44+ years of leadership and consulting work, I’m discovering that “back to basics” is exactly the right posture for this stage of life. So, I’m declaring a September Sabbatical from my usual writing and posting rhythm. I’ll still be present – but my focus will shift to my own three Rs.

Think of it as a strategic retreat, a creative hibernation, a chance to tend to the roots that feed the tree of everything I share with you.

Reading: Fuel for Curiosity

First up, Reading – with a capital R that demands respect. If you know me at all, you know my love affair with books is a passionate and ongoing one. My to-be-read pile, along with my library “for later” list, has grown into what can only be described as a literary mountain range, complete with peaks that threaten to topple and valleys where forgotten gems hide beneath newer acquisitions. September will be a start to scale these heights with the dedication of a literary mountaineer.

Books have always been my companions – biographies of leaders, histories of industries, novels that transport me, and studies that stretch the mind. This September, I’m giving myself permission to lean all the way in to that voracious appetite.

Reading is not just consumption – it’s cultivation. Every page sharpens insight, every story widens perspective. And when you’re in a season of transition like I am with retirement, reading becomes both anchor and compass. It steadies you and points toward new horizons.

Expect to see hints of what I’m reading seep into future posts and projects. But for this month, I’ll be reading for depth, for delight, and for discovery – without the pressure of turning every paragraph into content.

Writing: Expanding the Canvas

Which brings us to Writing – the craft that both thrills and terrifies me in equal measure. September will see me stretching beyond my usual content comfort zone, exploring writing opportunities that have been nudging at my consciousness like persistent houseguests who refuse to be ignored.

If reading fuels curiosity, writing clarifies it. I’ve written for decades in service of organizations, leaders, and congregations. This website itself has been around for over 17 years! Retirement has opened up a wonderful canvas of time, and I’m keen to explore different forms and avenues for my words. Now, in this next season, I want to broaden the canvas.

September will be my testing ground. Instead of polishing posts on deadline, I’ll use this pause to experiment. There are essays begging to be born, stories that need space to unfold naturally, and maybe – just maybe – the beginnings of something bigger that’s been gestating in the creative corners of my mind.

Think of it as shifting from the classroom’s lined notebook to an artist’s sketchpad. Writing remains central, but I’ll approach it less as a duty and more as a creative exploration.

’Rithmetic: Adjusting to New Realities

And then there’s ‘Rithmetic – perhaps the most sobering of the three R’s. September marks a significant milestone in my personal journey: fully adjusting to retirement realities, including the mathematical precision required for successful resource management.

Retirement brings with it the fresh discipline of budgeting all resources. Consider time: With the turn of a calendar page, I now have 40-50 hours per week formerly devoted to “work” now available for other endeavors. And finances: Gone are the days of steady paychecks and predictable income streams. Hello, careful calculations and strategic financial planning.

Arithmetic – the ’rithmetic of the old phrase – is no longer just time measured by a calendar or abstract numbers on a spreadsheet. It’s about aligning values and resources, investing wisely, and learning to live within a new rhythm of provision in all areas of life.

This September, I’ll be paying attention to all the numbers. Not in an anxious way, but in a thoughtful, intentional way. Budgeting time and money, like reading and writing, is a skill you never stop refining. It’s a reminder that simplicity often creates space for joy.

Why a Sabbatical Matters

Taking a sabbatical – even a short one – gives breathing room. It’s a way of hitting “reset,” of remembering that productivity isn’t the only measure of worth. For me, September is less about retreat and more about recalibration. By focusing on the three Rs, I’ll be investing in the practices that continue to prepare me for whatever this next chapter of life holds.

And in that sense, I’m going back to school – not literally, but in spirit. I’m returning to the basics: the books that inform, the writing that expresses, the numbers that ground. The classroom looks different at this age, but the lessons are no less vital.

What This Means for You

If you’ve come to expect weekly reflections or resources on 27gen, you’ll notice a conspicuously quiet pace beginning in September. Consider it a pause, not a stop. I’ll be back later this fall with fresh insights, hopefully sharper because of this time away.

In the meantime, maybe you need a sabbatical of your own. What might your “three Rs” be? They may not look like mine. For you, it could be relationships, rest, and recreation – or something else entirely. The point is to step back and give yourself permission to attend to what really matters.

Closing the Lesson

So, there you have it. My September Sabbatical is truly about embracing the fundamental building blocks of learning and life. It’s a period of intentional reflection, creative exploration, and practical planning.

The old schoolhouse phrase – reading, writing, and ’rithmetic – was never just about the alphabet or multiplication tables. It was about foundation. You can’t build anything of substance without first mastering the basics.

For me, this September Sabbatical is a return to those basics:

• Reading widely.
• Writing freely.
• Managing resources wisely.

Three Rs, one renewed foundation.

So here’s to September: to books that transport us, words that challenge us, and numbers that ground us in reality.

I’ll see you later this fall! 

Until then, 

Your temporarily absent but always grateful storyteller