The only advice Jared and Logan gave me as I left the airport was to

A. Let the experience of Bali be all it was met to be. To be open and go with the flow. Not to control every thing, to just have fun.

And

B. To not tan my face. Apparently Logan doesn’t want her mom to look like a leather hand bag at the Ellen show.

So far I’ve done pretty good at one of the two.

Brody and I arrived in Bali safely and unscathed. Thanks to my favorite sister in law we had a driver pick us up at the airport and safely transport us to Ubud. I am beyond grateful. Arriving in a new country can feel sketchy and I quickly realized I could have easily been scammed. The prices quoted as I got off the plane were far higher than what I actually paid for my private driver-so thank you Danielle (and Mel and Grandpa George)

Ubud is about an hour and a half away from the Denpasar, where the airport is and the ride to our hotel was uneventful. We cruised through the city bustling with the usual busy traffic, past so many amazing furniture stores (how much is a container to ship home?) and down the winding and narrow roads lining the rice fields.

I was in awe.

So much about Bali is the same as the rest of Asia but at the same time so much is different than everything we have seen over the past month. My head darted from one side to the other trying to take in all the sights and as my excitement grew, so did my anxiousness. I almost couldn’t wait to arrive and get this adventure started. It was just as I was about to come out my seat, that we pulled up to a quaint little hotel on the corner of a busy street in Ubud.
Ubud is just as I hoped. It is truly an oasis and such a welcome serenity in the the craziness of Asia.
It is as you imagine, green, organic and full of people who are here to do some serious contemplation.
Ubud has an energy that words won’t do justice, so I won’t try. I guess it is because it not really supposed to be spoken about. It is supposed to be felt.

It is a  little town that has a vibe that is not quite Sayulita but also not quite Saltspring Island. It is hippy pants and smarty pants. It is coconut water, and fine wine. It is cheap hostels and expensive retreats. It is chicken skewers being cooked on the street corner of a vegan restaurant.
Ubud is an anomaly- so it instantly it felt perfect, like I had arrived home.

Brody and I got to Indonesia on New Years Eve. It was the end of one great year and the start of the new calendar and we had the intention of whooping it up until the break of dawn.
We made it until 10 pm.
We wandered the streets, got lost, ate at a cool restaurant, looked in a few shops, watched some locals kids rip a couple firecrackers in a very unsafe manner and then we both identified that we were trying too hard to make an awesome night out of a night we just wanted to end, so we went home to bed.

As much as my hope was to share an epic story about New Year’s Eve in Bali, I have to be honest.

I slept through it all, which, to those of you who ‘get it’ -know- it was totally awesome.

Going home early was the perfect call.

Jared knew, bringing Brody to Bali was a good idea. He would reign me in. There would be no hangover for what I really came here to do. I wouldn’t miss out on all that Soulshine had to offer.
I woke up refreshed, limber, hydrated  and ready to start the day at the Yoga Barn New Year’s retreat and Jam.

We arrived first thing in the morning and lined up for tickets. Apparently we got 2 of the last 11 (of course) available and since Brody miraculously turned 12 overnight (haha) he got to participate in the morning Yin class.

There were 145 mats in the room. Brody and I chose the two at the very back of the most beautiful studio you could ever imagine.
Yoga Barn is a facility that is built at the end of a busy street in Ubud, but the moment you walk in, you’d never know.
It is so peaceful and quiet.
There is a guest house, a quiet area, an detox facility, an amphitheater, an juice bar and a lobby/gift shop and towering above it all is the main yoga studio.

It is open air, with beautiful hardwood floors and vaulted ceilings. It is shaded and cool. Both the fans and the music are running softly in the background.

It is the perfect balance of beauty and tranquillity and it is breathtaking.

It sounds corny but the moment I stepped foot inside the facility. I knew I had ‘arrived’.

It was everything I hoped it would be.  I day dreamed about this place on  the plane ride over and pictures couldn’t do it justice. I was excited to soak it all up.

Check mark on the bucket list- enlightenment here I come!

Only it (enlightment) didn’t come.

Class started and as much as I loved it, it was clear that Brody did not. He twitched and rolled his eyes, he drank water and mouthed escape plans to me. I was worried about the rest of the day- he was trying to be a yogi- but he didn’t buy it.

Shit.

What was I thinking bringing an 11 (I mean 12) year old boy to a yoga retreat in Bali and expecting him to ‘get’ the path to enlightenment?

I mean isn’t the path to enlightenment really about being 11?
I tried to ignore him but the more I did, the more it was obvious we needed a break from the perfect yoga retreat.

Lunch was served, a vegetarians delight. Brody snubbed the offering and decided he wanted chicken.
Of course.
So off we trucked in the heat of the day to a local cafe. Me irritated, him a bit on edge of a total meltdown, hippy bandana and yoga pants still totally in place.

We looked the part but we were so far from being mindful, present and connected.

Brody was trying his best. He really was, but this was new and awkward and weird. We needed a moment to regroup and ask ourselves what we both hoped to take away from the day because it was clear that  neither of us were going to have a good experience.

First lesson of the day learned.

Do more of this in real life.

Step back when needed.

It was time for a cold beer, green juice just wasn’t going to cut it.  I needed something stronger to ease my frustration and since the universe was in charge, we chose a restaurant just down the street from the yoga barn that only sold large ones.

Perfect.

Brody and I ate, and we talked about the day and the expectations and in the end we decided to head back to the afternoon class with a different approach. If Brody didn’t want to participate, he didn’t have to and I promised to not let it affect my experience. He could take off the head band, pull out his iPad and if he didn’t want to do yoga, he didn’t have to. He had You tube.
We high fived, shook hands, hugged and went back with a new plan.

Then without expectations lingering, a shift happened.

I grabbed a mat and Brody sat on a bench watching. Before long I looked over and he was on the other side of the room in a full downward dog.

The energy was very different than the Yin class and Brody was soaking it all up. All on his own, no pressure from me- he chose to do back bends with the best of ’em.

The teacher was amazing and upbeat and it was clear that all 145 students loved him. The vibe was powerful and the music was pumping.

Les, an ex-alcoholic, ex-crystal meth addict, ex-porn star turned yoga teacher turned a room full of strangers into a room full of family.
There was a lot of touching, hugging, saying thank you and I love you’s and for me there was a shit load of crying.

Like a baby.
It was a beautiful thing.

My legs throbbed, my arms twitched and my heart ached.
But it was so completely different than my usual heart ache, this heartache felt like everything  being released. It felt like letting go.

“Booya! Ubud success. Eat, pray, Love that shit.” I was screaming to myself on the inside.

The girl beside me seemed concerned. She just told me to breathe. We were in frog pose, and she didn’t seem too worried by my tears. I guess people must often cry in that posture. Ouch!

The best part was when the class came when it was over. Brody skipped back with a huge smile on his face, apparently NOW he loves Yoga. The day was, fun, rewarding and inspiring.

Yes!!! Check Mark, Gold Star, Success!!
We were ready to rock.

Micheal Franti started his set after a beautiful meditation about intention and goal setting for the new year. When he walked out on stage, there was not whole lot of hoopla as he started strumming his guitar. It kind of felt like an exclusive party almost like being  invited into a living  room full of his friends.
Everyone was happy, relaxed, yoga-fied, sober and peaceful.
Brody beamed with energy as he inched his way closer and closer to the front of the stage. Every time I would look at him, his excitement, amazement and awe would continue to grow.

“Mom, I LOVE this” he said as he danced. “This is amazing!!!”
And it was, but I am not sure what was more amazing, the music, the people or just watching my bare foot boy twirling around on the grass with no inhibitions singing at the top of his lungs.

My lips smiled.  My heart smiled and my eyes cried.
This trip was a last minute decision. It was over the top to not go home and instead come here to do this. I was spending so much money and a part of me felt  guilty and selfish for extending an already amazing holiday.

But in that moment, the guilt was gone. I could never put a price on this. I had done the right thing.

Being here with Brody, totally happy and peaceful and well stretched for this awesome dance session had solidified I made the right decision. I didn’t need the universe to show me anything else for me to know me I was exactly where we were supposed to be.

Here.

But then, just as I was having this very thought, incase there was any doubt, the universe decided to shine down on us a little more.

I caught glimpses of  Michael Franti looking at Brody, and I then I saw him stare. Brody was mostly oblivious and just kept dancing, singing and smiling, he was so in his element.

“Kid…” Michael pointed at Brody “Get the hell up here”
Brody turned to me puzzled- “Me???”

I pushed him…..
“GO!!!”
And he did. He went up on stage in all his glory and he belted out The Sound of Sunshine like he was the rock star.

I cried. Harder.
This is why I came here. This is why I knew I had to come. It was Brody’s time to have the spot light after all the years of living in the shadow of his sister’s illlness. After all the years of patiently waiting and hearing that it wasn’t about him, it finally was.

He was front and center and he was leading the crowd singing in complete harmony and rocking out. I was so incredibly and completely grateful to see it first hand.

I am also so excited to share it with you all, only I was so excited to see him on stage that I forgot to hit record on the GoPro.

Shit.

A moment had happened that was so kick ass and pivotal and life altering and I had missed the opportunity to capture it.

Shit.
A few blurry pictures and an awesome memory are all I have have to prove how hard Brody rocked out. I have asked for the video to be shared but if it isn’t you’ll just have to trust me, IT WAS SO AWESOME.

Anyhow, and at the end of the night when there was a small opportunity to say goodnight and thank you for the experience Brody and I approached Michael

We told our story and shared our adventure that led us to Bali to participate in Soulshine and see him play and the next thing we knew a plan was in place for us to hang out some more with him.

Holy shitballs! It could get better.

We arrived at Soulshine (Micheal Franti’s resort and yoga retreat) at 10 am on Sunday morning. As we walked up the road to the villa I could tell both Brody and I were nervous.
“Lets try not to be weirdo’s” I said to Brody.
“I know, Mom, but he’s famous and we are just normal and it feels super awkward to go to his house. I have never met a celebrity before….”

I paused at the gateway.

Second lesson of this amazing adventure.

“Brody, you are also a rock star and you always have been. Micheal Franti is inspiring because he does what he loves and he’s good at it, so we think he is cool and almost better than us, but you know what, he is not. He is just a normal guy, who obviously doesn’t think he is a celebrity because if he did he wouldn’t have invited us. Brody- he thinks you are totally rad…. OWN it”

He looked at me, rolled his eyes and winked “Ok, mom- thanks for the pep talk, was that more for me or more for yourself?”

Good point, and a total Brody’ism’
I didn’t know, but either way we both high fived and walked towards the gate. “Let’s do this!”

I should actually back up and say,  Brody walked (actually skipped) through the gate and I sort of waddled behind him. After a full day of yoga and another full day of riding mountain bikes in the rice fields my path to enlightment had left me with a rather sore ass.

Ouch -but as I looked around at my surroundings, I quickly forgot my pain.

Soulshine retreat is gorgeous.

Like out of this planet, perfect, as you would dream gorgeous. As you walk in to the place the stones are precisely laid to welcome you with words like ‘be happy’ and ‘let your soul shine’.

The long pathway to the lobby is beside a creek where locals are bathing naked with their children. Music is whistling in the background and it is shaded and cool.

We were greeted by an older Balinese man who seemed to be expecting us.
“Here to see Michael?” He said to us just before he hugged us unexpectedly.

We nodded in appreciation and he ushered us up to the pool deck where Michael and his friend Scott were waiting for us.

I took a deep breathe. Holy shitballs, this is happening! Don’t be a weirdo.

We were hugged and welcomed. Michael took us upstairs and introduced to the yoga class that was in session and they all welcomed us like old friends who seemed to be happy we were there. Then we went downstairs and were offered a beautiful meal by the pool over looking the rice fields. About 5 women were cooking in the kitchen and everything was fresh.

Scott, Michaels friend sat across from me. He is a recent cancer survivor so he and I had an immediate connection and began to chat. Scott too has had numerous treatments, and is sort of at a cross roads in the cancer journey. I could have spent hours talking to him. He is an interesting guy who spent years working for Lance Armstrong, living through his cancer journey and success’ and disappointments only to have his own battle to face. Ironic and strange. I think we both kind of ‘got’ how you’d never think this could happen to you and how when you are faced with it you are also faced with the big fat question of “now what?”

Life after cancer has so many question marks no matter who you are.

So, as Scott and I talked about the heavy stuff, Micheal and Brody were all about fun.
They went out to the rice fields and MF taught Brody how to cut rice, with a very sharp knife apparently.  Brody posed the question “Do you ever wonder who would have thought to eat this plant? To do all this work to get one little grain of food?”

Apparently MF replied “All the time..” and they were instantly connected.

They were gone for about 1/2 hour and when they came back they were covered in sweat and jumped in the pool together. They swam, and laughed and we ate and visited around the table with the rest of the yogi’s on the retreat.
Then Michael pulled out his guitar and he and Brody sang a quieter more personal version of Sound of Sunshine.

Again- I cried.

It was a perfect day and an incredible experience. Brody beamed as we rode home on the back of some local mopeds.

Michael is a great guy. He really is, but what struck me most about him was his lack of knowing what a great guy he is.

I am sure many people tell him but he doesn’t let it faze him.
He is the kind of person that gets the opportunity to lift so many people up, has a huge message to share with the world, but doesn’t have a big ego.

Inspiring.

He is not a preacher. He is not the kind of person that gives you the feeling he thinks he knows more than you do (even though he obviously does).

He is as interested and engaged with who is in front of him as much as the people who are in front of him are engaged in him.

And in so many ways he made me think of my Loggie.
Just like her, he is just of living the life he has been given (which has been full of his own challenges) in the best way possible. Through the ups and the downs, his soul truly shines. It comes out in his music but it also comes out in his generous and gracious personality.

I also like that he does’t seem to take any of his blessings for granted. He’s all about appreciation, giving back, and using his amazing platform to create more of what he wants and what is good for others.

We walked into Soulshine nervous and awkward and we walked away from Soulshine different and better. Immediately,  I could tell Brody had changed.

In these few days in Bali we both have changed and it is so good.

Since our day with MF , we have continued to chat about what was said at the yoga retreat and what advice Michael shared with us. We have talked about how we feel and the incredible string of coincidences and synchronicity that led us to this experience and how these are the moments  when you know life is working in perfect harmony.

We are still in awe and although I am babbling here,  there are really no words for what happened.

Just a knowing that from this point forward anything is possible.

Life is brutal at times but it is also super rad and it is our responsibility to make the good in life happen for ourself and others instead of letting the circumstances of the shitty parts control us.

I hope in 2016 you let your Soul Shine.

Thank you Michael Frantic for showing us how.