BALI - the gratitude island.

This was my second time visiting this stunning island. I call it gratitude island, simply because this is where I truly understood the meaning of gratitude. The genuine smiles from the locals will always stay with me, as they are so rich within. They prioritise the human spirit and its needs, rather than simply material or physical things.

“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.”  

- Melody Beattie -

It is so inspiring to watch hotels, shops, restaurants and homes present their offerings to the gods, they start each day with a blessing and with gratitude. This alone showed me that we should follow their example, and understand that we must find balance between the physical and nonphysical. Showing gratitude daily as we press on with our modern lives will help our deep emotional and physical imbalance. Too many people in developed countries have been conditioned to focus on problems rather than solving them; they’re drowning in depression and addiction instead of keeping the faith. They also chase money over wellbeing and a balanced life, and sadly, only believe in what they can see instead of believing, in order to create. Thoughts are the beginning of all things in our world.

Bali has so much to offer starting with the goodness of the locals, then all of its wonders: the secret sanctuaries; the peaceful temples, the hidden magical forests, and so much more. 

"Exploration is really the essence of the human spirit."  - Frank Borman -

My favourite place is the sacred Monkey Forest, what an experience that was! The monkeys are truly at peace. They’ll chase you around if you have bananas, and believe me, they won’t stop until they have them. These monkeys are such great entertainers. They can play for hours, trying to open your bags, bite your water bottles, and occasionally stealing anything you've left unprotected. They will also jump on you when you least expect it! My advice is to enjoy their presence, but don’t provoke them or try to touch them, they are animals with primitive instincts after all. It’s an amazing experience you will never forget!

The temples across Bali are majestic, they’re all as breath taking as each other, but many tourists miss out on the energy of these stunning temples.  For them its more about selfies than being in the moment and soaking up the vibes of thousands of years of history. You will have to wear a sarong to enter most temples as appropriate clothing is a must. Of all the temples that we visited Tanah Lot was my favorite. You can be blessed at the holy spring, emerging with grains of rice stuck to your forehead, which seem to remain stuck for a really long time.  You can also touch the head of a lucky snake in a cave opposite the holy spring, and both are said to bring peace and goodness into your life. The local guides will often recommend you to watch the sunset from Tanah Lot, and I can promise a spectacular view. If you hang around for a few minutes after sunset, you will also see the thousands of bats flying from their cave to hunt for food, but don't worry they won't come near you. Just imagine thousands of bats filling the sky, something you’ll only see once in a lifetime! Dracula would have been proud!

The beautiful waterfalls are not to be missed. Northern Bali has a stunning hidden heaven off the main tourist trail, with several shining waterfalls all in one spot. When the sun hits at a certain angle, it's like a shower of million diamonds falling from the sky and melting into the water. In the pool at the bottom there was a group of young local boys splashing in the water and enjoying their natural playground. If we could replace all the time that humans spent playing video games, watching TV or transfixed on their phone, by enjoying the wonders of Mother Nature, I believe our lives would be much more relaxed and fulfilled. 

“Travel brings power and love back into your life.” 

- Jalaluddin Rumi - 

Bali doesn't disappoint. It will enrich your soul, remind you of what’s important in life, show you the magnificence of mother nature, share its rich traditions, and feed you with its stunning and exotic fruits. It is simply a wonderful destination.

Travel the world, and bring some of their beautiful traditions and culture home! 
We have so much to learn from each other.

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PARENT'S BLESSING: Why seek approval?

We only end up hurting if we don't get it as we know we have failed to meet their expectations.Do we need to please our parents and follow their ways? I don’t believe so. We are individuals not clones with our own aspirations. Some parents heavily influence their children to follow their path; in an odd way they push them toward their unachieved dreams, their religious beliefs, and their way of life.

Of course, parents will have a certain way of living which their children will have to accept. They'll have do as they're told, but only until they're old enough to make their own choices and chase their own dreams.

I believe that parents should raise their kids with unconditional love and with discipline, but also encourage their independence and freewill to become whomever they want to be.

I once met an intelligent and beautiful girl at a model agency.

I asked her: “Where are you from? She said: “From Puerto Rico”. I was amazed that she came from somewhere so far away. I asked her if she was a model back home. She answered: ”No, I was a pilot”. I was gob smacked! I asked: "What are you doing here in London?" She replied: “I’m here on a student visa to get away from my dad and make my dream come true. I never wanted to become a pilot, that was my dad’s dream. I want to be a model, I'm passionate about fashion.”

We all know people who are living their lives in a certain way to keep their parents or others happy. They feel like it's their duty, an obligation towards them and they're willing to sacrifice some of their own freedom to please them. That’s a personal choice and no one should be judged for it. However, many suffer the consequences. Their heart divorces their mind and they become unhappy as they aren't living the life they desire.

"All parents damage their children. It cannot be helped. Youth, like pristine glass, absorbs the prints of its handlers. Some parents smudge, others crack, a few shatter childhoods completely into jagged little pieces, beyond repair." - Mitch Albom -

The lack of support or love from your parents will hurt but that’s only a problem if you choose to let the pain take over. Time will heal your wounds. Do you really need their blessing to breathe air? Do you need their approval to choose who you love? Do you need them to hold your hand for your first day at work? No! So why is it any different to choose the life you want?

It is heart breaking when a parent disapproves of your choices, rejecting the life you have chosen or sometimes showing disapproval through disinterest. I kind of understand their perspective though. They think they know what is best for you and want to protect you from the bad choices they made. They forget that we all have different values and different ambitions, so we all need to follow our own path. I don’t think this makes them bad parents, just afraid of the unknown with little faith in what is possible.

"Lucky parents who have fine children usually have lucky children who have fine parents." - James A. Brewer -

It isn’t our job to fulfil our parent’s unfinished dreams or live the life they have chosen for us, but we do have a duty towards ourselves to fulfil our own destiny. 

Some kids are happy to take over the family business or follow the same profession as their parents because it's a family tradition and other kids want something different. It's the same with spiritual, political and religious beliefs, some will keep them going and others will make their own choices.

If you are a parent, don't be disappointed if your son or daughter has chosen to live free and be their own person. Most kids are grateful to their parents for the clothes on their backs, the food on the table, and the roof over their head. Mostly they are grateful for the chance to live and this can only be repaid by love. Be proud of your kids and love them, accept their choices and passions, they want your love and acceptance more than anything, but they will find a way to live without it if this is not the case.

Parents have the gift to heal the world, by teaching unconditional love to the next generation SO OUR FUTURE CAN BE BRIGHTER.

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