Adapted from KC Green’s “On Fire” comic

I’m on a sabbatical and it’s not at all what I expected.

Who knew doing nothing would be so hard?

The seasons are changing. Summer is transitioning to the pumpkin-spicey embrace of autumn. And hell yes, you bet I’m using “changing seasons” as a metaphor for what’s going on in my life, as well.

Plot Twist!

I recently left my job at The Onion after three-and-a-half years. I’m super grateful for the opportunity to work alongside the funniest people in the country, doing the best work of my career. Major bucket list item: checked.

“So Hassan, where’s your new gig?”

Um, I don’t have one lined up. Instead, I decided to take one of those “sabbaticals” to figure things out. Both personally and professionally.

Everyone was so excited for me: “You get to do whatever you want! Embrace this opportunity to just BE and do what you’ve always been wanting to do.”

So starting out, I had a general game plan in my head. It sounded heavenly.

What I had in mind:

Days full of sunrise yoga, daydreaming in coffee shops, writing songs on my guitar, reading books, writing on Medium, writing a screenplay, people watching in the park, traveling, befriending wild animals a la…