Throughout December, people are extra nice — it’s that wonderful time of the year when everyone is more cheerful. ‘Tis the season of merrymaking and feeling the love, after all!

But shouldn’t love and kindness be all year through?

Over songs or poetry or endless homilies, I think a person will only imbibe this truth were he or she to go on a journey of self-discovery. What is the best gift you can give yourself, anyway, but time to nurture your soul?

For me, this month that ends the year is a time of deep reflection. Looking back with gratitude at 2024, I think of the blessings that made it a good year — unforgettable, very special, life-changing.

Amazing space

When an invitation arrived in my mail for The Sovereign Soul Experience Retreat in Ubud, Bali from my friends who are more like family, Lia Bernardo and Malou Araneta, I immediately accepted and prepared for a memory of a lifetime.

We spent six days and five nights in September at the enchanting Bedulu Cliff Estate. The curated immersion was thoughtfully designed to offer an authentic Balinese experience, set against the backdrop of the lush Petanu River Valley.

Located in the heart of Ubud, the entire property is swathed in green, sprawling from the top of the valley (where the villas are situated) down to the base (where the yoga studio is located), and one can hear the river waters running around big boulders.

The air is clean, crisp, refreshing — almost like a filter cleansing. Looking at the surroundings alone is already balm for the spirit, and the sounds one hears are nature’s perfect binaural beats or solfeggio tunes.

Acoustics are au naturelle — you can hear the symphony of birds chirping and crickets, the rustling of the leaves and even whispers of the wind that often covers you in a much-needed embrace. The estate is nestled within a genuine Balinese community, lush forest, rich local culture and all.