I had two options before me:

(1) Head into Ubud to take care of errands, which meant dealing with traffic, scooters, and the bustling crowd—essentially embracing more chaos. (2) Lounge by the pool and let the attentive staff cater to my every need. What I ultimately chose made me realize that healing is an ongoing journey that spans a lifetime. All I needed was a place to begin.

In Bali, there is a beautiful tradition of making offerings. Throughout the town, you'll come across altars adorned with incense, flowers, and little tokens of appreciation, all symbolizing gratitude for the day or one's journey. These offerings accumulate over time, forming a captivating and heartfelt mosaic of thankfulness, prayers, and appreciation. I was truly enamored by this practice, as it embodies the essence of gratitude, expressed one small, heartfelt offering at a time.