Easy As Sunday Morning - A New Way of Life

C Nambi
Sabbatical Dates: 1st September 2025 - 31st January 2026

“I was under the impression that doing work alone is life – it is productive and
expected of anyone – other things are not that useful, not worth it, waste of time,
not fulfilling one’s own duty and feeling guilty about not engaging with the work”.

Changing Thought:
“While the work and responsibilities are very important, now, I feel the need to
find meanings in engaging with family and other social life, too. In that way the life
will become wholesome and fulfilling. Lifetime is not just for work and meant for
other things too”.

Responses and Reactions from Others:
“You deserve it” – many told this.
“It is a reward and recognition for your hard work” – relatives and friends.
“I don’t believe this Nambi. How is it possible for you to go on leave for such a long
period” – a close friend.
“Is there such groups (organization) to support this kind of an engagement” –
among NGO circle.
“You are a Role Model – I want to undergo similar experience” – a close friend.
“Have a good time and enjoy yourself” – many told this.

From staff team:
“The idea of sabbatical itself is good and interesting”
“It is a need and opportunity for persons like you to spend more time with your
family”
“Initially, some kind of hesitation and anxiety and challenges were there – but
gained confidence in due course of time”
“Became more responsible, effective and committed in my work”
“Your absence was not felt”
“Many times, the NGO leaders loose connection with their families & relatives and
not give due importance for one’s own health – it is an opportunity to reconnect
and take care of oneself”
“Open sharing and feedback on programmes were missing”
“It was an opt decision at an appropriate time – will definitely bring in more energy
into the organization”

Some simple changes in my routines (during Sabbatical):

• Sitting and drinking water, tea/coffee etc.., slowly and peacefully – trying to get in touch with the taste of them
• Eating food items by chewing and in a leisurely manner
• My routine walk became a kind of observation walk – looking around plants, trees, people etc…
• It was a good feeling and excited about having exclusive money for myself within the organization – it was always used to be the other way round
• Slept well – sometimes for hours together and at odd times, too.
• Morning routines like bathing etc… were taking place whenever felt like
• Listened to some of the old songs – it brought in child/youthhood memories
• Often, I recalled the title “Easy Like Sunday Morning” which appears in Sunday magazine of the newspaper “The Hindu” to feel relaxed.

On the outset, I was trying to avoid strict and tight schedule for a particular day.
Many times, I had to tell my family members that “I don’t have a schedule – don’t
have anything to do or complete – so, don’t urge me’

II. My Engagements during the Sabbatical:
1. Health Check-up and Medical Treatment - (Physical Wellbeing)
It was proposed as a first and foremost objective and purpose of my sabbatical
programme. Just before the start of the programme, I was physically weak and
tired because of the continuous organizational work and 3 months of hectic work
and the stress due to my son’s marriage related works. Even before start of my
sabbatical, I suddenly developed ‘vertigo’ issue - had to be admitted in the hospital
twice (4 days each time). It was also an opportunity to thoroughly check-up my
body and rule out any possibility for heart-attack, stroke etc... Several tests were
carried out. I had to consult and check with Cardiologist, Neurologist, Gastrologist
and every other possible discipline. No major problem was identified. However,
preventive medicines were prescribed. Now, regular follow-up is done with
appropriate medicine and lifestyle change.

Learning:
I was under the impression that I am physically fine and fit. However, I too had
some problems. This sabbatical programme really helped me to go for timely
treatment and give due importance for my physical well-being. It was a warning
signal and I am in the right track, right now.

2. Yoga, Meditation and other relaxation related engagements:
Having known the importance and effectiveness of yoga and meditation for
physical and mental health, many years back itself, I got into this – practicing it
regularly for some times. Unfortunately, I left it during the last 5 years. So, one of
the proposed activity/engagement was getting back into that again. During this
sabbatical period, I could do that – attended a 5 days Advance Meditation Course
at Art of Living Centre, Bangalore during the month of October, 2025. It was a
pleasant and peaceful stay over there in terms of beautiful natural environment,
quit and calm place, healthy food, good and spiritual people around you, Satsang
(spiritual song and music) - listening to spiritual and life style discourses etc…etc.

The highlight of the meditation course was ‘3 days of total silence and listening to
oneself’. It was an interesting and reflective period.

After that also, I had an opportunity to undergo a 21 days online course (everyday
45 minutes to 1 hour) during the month of January, 2026.

Outcome & Learning:

• It enabled me to recapture my earlier practice
• Once again it reinforces the fact that it brings in more energy, clarity and to be active
• Another important new learning is “meditation is not about focusing and concentrating but it is relaxing, becoming effortless, be at ease and a state of nothing to do”.

3. Visiting Friends, Relatives and Companionship Building:
A lot of time was given for this during this period. For any kind of function/events,
normally, I used to go in the morning and leave on the same day or next day itself.

In that way, for many years, quality time was not spent. This time, I made it a point
to spend sufficient time with relatives and friends. As part of this, we visited
relatives and friends of my wife’s side as well as mine.

Visit to Wayanad: (Wife’s side) We spent about a week’s time over there. The
environment and climate were fantastic – visited my wife’s sister and
brothers’ houses (4+4) and their children including some of my wife’s
childhood friends. Interestingly, we had the breakfast, lunch, dinner and tea
time etc... at different houses on each day. They looked after us well with a
lot of love and affection. One day about 20 friends and relatives went for a
Malayalam movie and we hosted a dinner for them. We also gifted them with
sweet boxes.

Travel between Wayanad and Tirunelveli: On our way to my native place
Tirunelveli, we had an opportunity to travel through the entire stretch of
Kerala (Wayanad – Calicut- Shoranur – Kottayam – Ernakulam – Quilon –
Trivandrum and Nagercoil) by Train. It was an interesting route with a lot of
greenery, inland waters, rivers, coconut trees, sea shore and the typical
topography of Kerala.

Kalakad in Tirunelveli : This is my native place where I was born and brought
up - stayed there for a week - visiting relatives and friends whom we had
not visited for a long time – it is a beautiful place at the foot of western ghats
– vast areas of plantain and paddy fields – numerous water tanks around –
visited my primary & high schools where I studied including some of the big
and small temples around and near to my village – good to meet some of my
childhood friends. Except some old faces many are new faces for me since I
have been out of my native place for the last 40 years.

A short one day visit to Kanyakumari: Since Kanyakumari is just 50 kms away
from my native place, we went over there – stayed overnight – saw the Sun
Rise and Sun Set – visited the Vivekananda Rock, Thiruvalluvar Statue,
Gandhi Mandapam and the miniature of Tirupathi temple – astonished to
see the confluence of the Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal and the Indian
Ocean and the opportunity to see the Sun Rise and Sun Set was an
interesting and thrilling experience.

Visit to Chennai: We stayed for 5 days at our daughter’s place and visited a
few friends – spent some time in the beach too. It is a long time stay for me
at my daughter’s place.

Visit to Cousin’s place at Pune: I could spend some quality time with my
cousin’s family after a long time – Had a good time with dining and some
sight seeing trip in and around Pune. Some of the interesting places visited
were - Aga Khan Palace, Shaniwar Wada, Pawna Lake, Sinhagad Fort etc…

Learnings:
“Our relatives and friends felt happy about our visit and showed a lot of love
and affection. It increases the emotional binding and closeness”.

“Brings in a sense of pride to be part of the clan”.

“Let us not forget our roots and keep it alive”.

4. Rejuvenation, Physical and Mental Health through Ayurveda Treatment &
Rest:

This was the best of my sabbatical time along with my wife. We were very lucky to
be in this fantastic place called “Poonthottam Ayurvedasram” near to Palakad in
Kerala for 14 days during the month of December, 2025. Excellent treatment (Oil
Massage to Steam Bath), Green Natural Atmosphere, Lovely Accommodation,
personalized attention, appropriate healthy food, herbal drinks, paste & soaps,
yoga & meditation, good rest & sleep etc… etc. Everything was managed in a
professional way with a human touch. Due importance was given for both physical
and mental well being.

Treatment:
Eight different types of treatments were given during the 14 days including detoxi
fication of the body. 2 to 2 1/2 hours was taken for this in a day. It was done in
a specialized treatment room. During the time of the treatment, my entire attention
and focus was on my body and mind. I was trying to immerse myself in the whole
process. The climax of that was the bath given, applying soap and wiping the body
with a towel as it is done for a baby – it was a mesmerizing experience for me.

Food & Beverages:
Basically, healthy vegetarian Kerala Cuisine was given to aid digestion and
accelerate healing based on individual needs and assessment – Herbal drinks were
served 3 times a day – no coffee, tea and outside foods. The food was served with
a lot of love and affection in a simple and elegant dining hall but confined to food
prescribed. This was the meaningful and purposeful dining.

Exercise and Yoga:
This was very much part of the 14 days treatment. It was based on individual needs
and requirements for an hour in a day. This added to the overall healing process.

Rest and Relaxation:
There was ample time for this – a gentle walk through the campus in the morning
– sitting on a bench near to the lotus pond in the evening – a casual talk and
interaction with the fellow campus-mates, wearing of light and informal dresses –
physician enquiring about your well-being – visit to the Ayurveda medicine
manufacturing unit – occasionally swinging in a ‘Swing’ like a child – dinner getting
over by 7 pm. – the whole campus becoming silent by 8.00 pm – being inside the
campus without going outside etc.. enabled us to rest more and relax.

Follow-up:
14 days of mandatory rest and relaxation including oil application, taking internal
Ayurveda medicine etc… were promptly followed to get the full impact of the

Ayurveda treatment process.
“Ayruveda is not just addressing a particular health related problem”.
“It is a holistic and wholesome approach in addressing the same.”
“It is a healing process meant for both physical, mental and overall well-being”.

5. Sight Seeing Trips:
A) Within the Country
We undertook a week-long Golden Triangle Trip i.e. Delhi, Jaipur and Agra. We
joined a group of 20 persons from Coimbatore and managed by the famous
Emperor Traveline, very efficiently. Flew down to New Delhi from Coimbatore- 5
to 6 hours of travel through Express Highway to reach the Pink City Jaipur – got
accommodated in a good hotel. The whole of next day, visited to places like City
Palace, Amber Port, Jal Mahal, Hawa Mahal, Albert Museum, Birla Temple etc… We
had a tourist guide to narrate about these places/its historical back ground,
importance and uniqueness of these places. Visit to Janthar Mantar was a proof of
our ancestor’s knowledge on astronomy.

Next, we travelled to Agra. The first thing we saw was the Taj Mahal. Being first
time, excited to see the beauty of Taj Mahal – took a lot of photos in different angles.
It will be a lifetime memory. We were surprised to know that there is fort in Agra
similar to Redfort and visited the same. Then proceeded towards Delhi – on the
way visited the famous Madhura Temple – reached Delhi in the evening and saw
light and sound show at “Swami Narayan Akshardham” - it was magnanimous to
see this show as well as the entire campus – such a neat and clean place.

The Next day, visited President & Parliament Houses (outside view only), Red Fort,
Raj Ghat etc… On the last day visited the beautiful ‘Lotus Temple’ and ‘Qutub Minar’
and returned back to Coimbatore.

It was a good, meaningful, enjoyable & memorable trip and became friendly with a
few more families in Coimbatore.

A big question? Having visited a few elegant, architectural beauty of forts - having
listened to the stories of Kings and Rulers – having watched/seen the security
structures built, what comes to my mind is that…

• Man has been a power-hungry animal – to achieve this they go to any extent

– even killing their own sons and fathers and anybody for that matter

• Expanding their own territory and wealth at any cost has been a thriving

and pushing factor behind this. Irrespective of the above, they had been
living in constant fear and insecurity.

• It is very sad and unfortunate that it is still continues in the form of

sophisticated wars. Where does the humanity heading towards?

B. Beyond the Country – Malaysia and Thailand
“All the best for your Honey Moon Trip” was the WhatsApp message from a friend
of mine just before the start of the journey.

We were on a week-long sight seeing trip to Malaysia and Thailand during the
month of January, 2026.

We reached Malaysia’s national capital Kuala Lumpur via Bengaluru Airport – then
visited ‘Putrajaya’ (administrative capital of Malaysia). It is famous for its’ modern
architecture, green spaces, a man-made Putrajaya Lake and iconic landmark the
Pink-domed Putra Mosque, Green-domed Prime Minister’s Of􀏐ice Complex, Putra
Bridge (A three tiered bridge by Iranian Architecture), Seri-wawasan bridge (a sail
shaped bridge) and the Iron Mosque.

A visit to ‘Genting Islands’ on the second day was fantastic and thrilled to travel in
a rope car. The Casino-de-Genting was a large area with beautiful old and modern
structures coupled with various entertainment facilities. The famous ‘Murugan
Temple & Cave’ was also visited – Tall golden coloured Murugan Statue which we
have seen only in pictures and movies is a unique landmark in Malaysia. On the
third day the exciting visit was to ‘Patronas Twin Towers’ and ‘Sky duck KL Tower’
including some time on Shopping.

We could see a lot of Tamil people living there – employed in various jobs – running
business and hotels – felt as if we were in mini Tamilnadu. We have heard about it
but for the first time seeing it.

In Thailand, the major time was spent in the world-famous tourist spot ‘Pattaya’. In Pattaya, the evening “Alcazar Show” was a different kind of an experience. It’s a beautiful group dance performance for one and half hours featuring culturally themed dance with vibrant costume and advanced lighting featuring Thai, Korean and western influence. It was a spectacular event and surprised to know that the performers are transgender. They have got such an amazing talents.

The next day visit to ‘Coral Island’ was combined with adventurous Speed Boating,
Motorbike Ride, Banana Boat Ride in the sea water. The most thrilling experience
was ‘Scuba diving’ in the sea – it was fearful and exciting. Then an hour was spent
in the beautiful beach enjoying the nature, snacks and drinks.

On the third day visited places like…

• Gem Galary – it included a ‘Gems Discovery – Dark Ride’ with light and sound, Gem Cutting demonstration, visiting a fantastic Jewellery, Gem & Pearl gallery. Dolphinarium (Dolphin Show) – It was an amazing experience lasted for an hour – excited and thrilled to see those mammals
• Tiger Park – It provides opportunity for the visitors to enter enclosures and take photos with Tigers of various ages – new born to big ones. It was good to go around the park and see the majestic animal in large numbers. Ofcourse, we did not opt for entering into the cages and take photos.
• Floating Market: Half an hour boat ride through the 􀏐loating market was pleasant, colourful and charming – Food, beverages, Craft items are sold here including music and cultural events.

On the outset, Pattaya is an interesting place to visit and enjoy. The sad and
unfortunate aspect of it is that the sex trade and commercial sexual exploitation of
women. It is an area of concern.

On the last day, we travelled back to Bangkok to catch the flight. In Bangkok we
visited Temple of ‘Golden Buddha’ and Temple of ‘Emerald Buddha’. They are built
with beautiful architectural design – Stand tall with majestic look -encompassing
the humanity and its talent.

Note for Thought: Even though the Dolphin and Tiger Park was interesting and rare
to see, I personally felt that they are very much domesticated and controlled and
their natural instinct and behaviours are changed for entrainment and commercial
purposes.

Important Learning :
The world is so beautiful and elegant. It is the nature’s gift and treasure. The people
too are different in cultural and in many other aspects. But they are good in their
own way. So, it is better to go around and see. I always thought that I don’t have
time for such things – it is expensive and time consuming and not within my
priority. Rightnow, what I feel is that, it is not so. It is the matter of giving due
importance and seeing meaning in such things by taking into account one’s own
circumstance and capacities.

III. Struggle and Difficulties:

• Not doing anything is the most difficult part. Initially I felt lazy, lethargic and feeling guilty for not doing any work – a sense of ‘Am I wasting my time, unproductive etc.,’
• New Health related issues like Vertigo popped -up. I was bit worried about it. 
  
• Initially for 2 to 3 weeks, organizational thoughts were coming and going.
• Being at home, sometimes got into argument and irritation with wife and other family members. In due course of time, I could work on this and resolved to focus on the sabbatical.
• Some friends thought that they should not disturb me and stopped calling me. I called some of them and told them that we can have chats on anything else except work and organizational matters.
• Yet another important thing which I wanted to do as part of my sabbatical was ‘to help my wife in cooking and support her in gardening’. Unfortunately, it happened in a limited way only. That is something I could not fulfill.

         
IV. Rest and well-being of Post Sabbatical:
Some Comments…
“Looking great”
“Rejuvenated Nambi”
“Good to see you”
“Have become fresh”
“You look awesome”
“It is going to strengthen the team and the organization with new energy”

Yes, one indication is that I am not pushing anything hard, now – not getting into
minute details of work – trying to have food on time and also cautious about the
quantity and nutritious aspects of it – now, a little more patience and the attitude
of let us wait and see – started to appreciate things. Trying to look at life a bit easy.

Organizationally the team has worked well with efficiency and commitment. So, I
would like to recognize that and travel along with that and bring in the needed
support.

On the outset, I realized the fact that Sabbatical is not a one-time affair. It has to
become part of ones’ own personal life as well as work.

V. Areas of improvement to the Cocoon Initiative Process:
Right now, the process is perfectly alright. It is done in respected and respectful
way. There are lot of freedom to choose one’s own sabbatical. However, Ayurveda
treatment (rather the rejuvenation process of body and mind) and some amount
of yoga and meditation can be suggested. Ofcourse, should be left with the
concerned person.

VI. Advice to others:

• As mentioned above Ayurveda Treatment & Yoga, Meditation can be built in as part of Sabbatical
• Travel time can be reduced and more time can be given for rest and leisure
• Better to go for a health check-up, so that, health related issues can be identified, addressed and taken care of - it can be a kind of a preventive strategy         

VII. Staff Welfare and Wellbeing
Our organization CSED is already having a ‘Staff Policy’ in terms of…
… Staff recruitment
… Inbuilt Capacity & Skill Building Programmes and opportunities for them in
various projects
… legally binding declared leaves and holidays including sick, annual, maternity
leave etc…
… Social welfare measures like Employees Provident Fund (EPF), Employees State
Insurance (ESI) etc.

Other than the above routine leaves, holidays and welfare measures something
interesting, different, unique can be thought of and introduced for the well-being
of the staff. May be a brain storming session/meeting can be organized towards
this. One possibility is to work upon ‘Sabbatical Policy’. The major constraint will
be funds and resources for such an effort. On the outset, there is a need to give due importance for the well-being of staff.

VIII. Conclusion:
The Sabbatical programme was a great break through in my 4 decades of work in
this field and really useful, joyful, wonderful, peaceful, fantastic and reflective. It is
a unique and well thought of programme and highly appreciable.
​
My sincere thanks and salute for ‘The Cocoon Initiative Team’ for giving me this
great and wonderful opportunity which will become an important milestone in my
life.