Saying Goodbye

Diane, one of our Soul Sofa Tribe members left yesterday. Back to Los Angeles after being here for 3 months. Wah.

I miss her already.

She’s such a bright light. Wide open heart. Gorgeous soft sweet presence.

She’s definitely one of the comfy cushions of our Soul Sofa Tribe.

Here’s something to know about Ubud: The expats who live here often ask how long you are staying before they let you into their heart.

If you are staying for a long time (6 months or more) you are more apt to be let in.

I can understand why…

I’ve had to say goodbye to a lot of yummy people on this trip and let me tell you, it’s tough saying goodbye over and and over and over.

At least it is for this girl.

And it’s been a powerful lesson in non-attachment and letting go. It’s also helped me trust that the connections of the heart transcend wherever one is in the world.

Whenever any of our friends leaves Ubud we have a going away party for them so there are often many going away parties happening in any given week.

I like that tradition.

It’s so honoring of the person who touched our lives whether it be for 2 weeks or 2 months…

This is the party that we had for Diane a few days ago:

Zuri had a t-shirt made for Diane that said “Soul Tribe 2011” on the front and included all the words we’d used to describe Ubud on the back:

synchronicity

flow

love

spirituality

connection

and others that I can’t remember.

In our writing circle we’ve had quite a few discussions about how when one of us leaves to go ‘back home’ it’s not really going back but rather a returning. Or a going forward.

People (including myself) experience so many inner shifts in Ubud that going back in the same state that one left in is near impossible.

So if you email me asking ‘When are you coming back?’ you will find me responding, ‘I’m returning in September.’

🙂

Tagged as: expats Bali, expats in Ubud, expats Ubud