I graduated from NUS in 1997 and have been gainfully employed for the past 17 years.
I am moving into my early 40s and decided to take 6mths to 1 year break at this point before continuing my next lap of working journey towards 60 years old.

Would society be so unforgiving to scrutinize my break at mid-career?

I hate to give explanations despite it being a planned rest schedule.