Have you ever taken a trip overseas that opened your eyes to a new way of being?
This has definitely been my truth for most trips I've taken.
Travel awakens us. It opens our eyes, our minds and our hearts.
Bali at the end of last year did this for me.
It was just the right space and place to bring things back into perspective in my life.
And 3 months on, I find it's time for a little reflection.
This is what Bali taught me...
Though Bali is a developing country and many have very little, it was humbling to witness how sacred life is to them. It was common to see women placing handmade offerings at the entrance to their homes and businesses in the early morning as I walked to breakfast after yoga. I even heard about ceremonies held to bless their cars and was lucky enough to experience how whole families live together, young and old, all sharing their lives in the Balinese compounds.
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Offerings and ceremonies were just one of the ways in which I witnessed the Balinese giving thanks for the bounties they feel blessed to receive. As many had very little and yet were still outwardly so appreciative of what they did have, it definitely reminded me how much I take for granted in my life. One custom in particular struck me. The first time I saw this was in the Ubud markets, where a lady had just made a sale and proceeded to run the Indonesian Rupiah note she received over every item she had in her tiny stall. After seeing it done a few times I learnt it is a custom they do in gratitude for their first sale and as a prayer or wish of sorts for more to come.
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Every moment spent in Bali really drums home that true wealth is not material wealth. I met the most gorgeous souls time and time again who constantly wore the largest smiles on their faces whenever I saw them. From the little lady who acted as my motorcycle taxi to the lady down the road who owned her own little warung (restaurant/store). By the time I'd arrived at Ibu Dayu's shop after 6am yoga for breakfast, she had already been to the markets, set up shop and would be blessing her shop with incense and offerings she'd made the night before whilst smiling and greeting her neighbours. She'd always respond to requests with a hearty "no problem", laughter and huge smile.
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It may be the spaciousness we get when we travel and leave our worldly cares behind that allows us the space to heed this next lesson more...follow your intuition. I knew I had a calling to go to Bali last year and I'm so glad I answered it. The whole time I was there I sensed my intuitive guidance more clearly, going with the flow of the day, recognising signs and taking little known laneways to beautiful hidden away places. My time in Bali definitely reminded me that, intuition is like a muscle, the more you use it and act on what you hear/see/perceive the stronger it gets.
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And the biggest lesson that lead to all the others....we're called Human Beings, not human doings for a reason. We're not meant to be on the go 24/7 and our bodies, minds and souls need time to BE. These moments of stillness and "being" are important to replenish, heal and rebalance ourselves. It's also in those quiet moments taken that creativity is often born and we hear the inner stirrings of our soul (aka your intuition talking). Before Bali I was feeling the deep need for a break as I'd been working hard all year, teaching almost every class that came my way 6 days a week on top of a second job. Bali provided me with the perfect space to take that break. Lush greenery, yoga classes every hour, juice bars at every corner... nourishment available for the mind, body and soul.
Although it has been 3 months since returning to the real world, Bali's influence on me has been life changing. Life may be as busy as before, but I'm all the more conscious of my spaces to be and how I choose to fill them now!
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Offerings and ceremonies were just one of the ways in which I witnessed the Balinese giving thanks for the bounties they feel blessed to receive. As many had very little and yet were still outwardly so appreciative of what they did have, it definitely reminded me how much I take for granted in my life. One custom in particular struck me. The first time I saw this was in the Ubud markets, where a lady had just made a sale and proceeded to run the Indonesian Rupiah note she received over every item she had in her tiny stall. After seeing it done a few times I learnt it is a custom they do in gratitude for their first sale and as a prayer or wish of sorts for more to come.
-------
Every moment spent in Bali really drums home that true wealth is not material wealth. I met the most gorgeous souls time and time again who constantly wore the largest smiles on their faces whenever I saw them. From the little lady who acted as my motorcycle taxi to the lady down the road who owned her own little warung (restaurant/store). By the time I'd arrived at Ibu Dayu's shop after 6am yoga for breakfast, she had already been to the markets, set up shop and would be blessing her shop with incense and offerings she'd made the night before whilst smiling and greeting her neighbours. She'd always respond to requests with a hearty "no problem", laughter and huge smile.
-------
It may be the spaciousness we get when we travel and leave our worldly cares behind that allows us the space to heed this next lesson more...follow your intuition. I knew I had a calling to go to Bali last year and I'm so glad I answered it. The whole time I was there I sensed my intuitive guidance more clearly, going with the flow of the day, recognising signs and taking little known laneways to beautiful hidden away places. My time in Bali definitely reminded me that, intuition is like a muscle, the more you use it and act on what you hear/see/perceive the stronger it gets.
-------
And the biggest lesson that lead to all the others....we're called Human Beings, not human doings for a reason. We're not meant to be on the go 24/7 and our bodies, minds and souls need time to BE. These moments of stillness and "being" are important to replenish, heal and rebalance ourselves. It's also in those quiet moments taken that creativity is often born and we hear the inner stirrings of our soul (aka your intuition talking). Before Bali I was feeling the deep need for a break as I'd been working hard all year, teaching almost every class that came my way 6 days a week on top of a second job. Bali provided me with the perfect space to take that break. Lush greenery, yoga classes every hour, juice bars at every corner... nourishment available for the mind, body and soul.
Although it has been 3 months since returning to the real world, Bali's influence on me has been life changing. Life may be as busy as before, but I'm all the more conscious of my spaces to be and how I choose to fill them now!
