By Putu Maryam, Founder of The Bodhi Leaf Wellness Retreat, Bali
The holiday season has a way of pulling us in so many directions. There are gatherings, travels, to-do lists, celebrations, and a quiet pressure to make it all meaningful. We convince ourselves this is the time to do more, say yes to everything, and make the most of every moment—because, well… it’s the holidays.
But have you ever reached the end of it all feeling more tired than before?
It’s something I hear so often—people telling me, “I need a vacation from my vacation.” And I get it. Truly.
We try to squeeze in joy between flights and family dinners. We try to “relax” while managing everything for everyone else. And in the middle of it all, we forget to include ourselves.
Slowing Down Isn’t a Luxury
One thing I’ve come to learn, both personally and through the hundreds of guests who have passed through our doors, is that rest is not a luxury. It’s not selfish. It’s not something you “earn” after checking off enough boxes.
Slowing down is a necessity. It’s where we hear ourselves again.
That’s why we created The Bodhi Leaf Wellness Retreat—not as a resort, not as an escape, but as a sanctuary. A place where people can come to pause. To exhale. To remember themselves again.
It’s quiet here, and that quiet is intentional. Because sometimes healing doesn’t happen in doing more. Sometimes healing is found in doing nothing at all—just being with yourself.
A Gift to Self
If I could offer one thing to anyone feeling overwhelmed this time of year, it’s this: You don’t need to do more to deserve rest.
You don’t have to fix yourself. You don’t need a long explanation. You’re allowed to simply say, “I need space.” And that’s enough.
We’re so used to giving—to our families, our work, our communities. But how often do we give to ourselves?
I believe we owe it to ourselves to create moments of stillness. To offer ourselves grace. To take a breath and say, “This is for me.”
Whether that looks like a full retreat, a quiet afternoon off, or even ten minutes of presence with your own heart—that is a gift worth giving.
Come Back to You
At The Bodhi Leaf, we hold space for individuals and couples who are ready to slow down—not because they’re broken or lost, but because they’re human.
Because life gets loud. And sometimes the most important thing we can do is turn the volume down and return to ourselves.
So if the holidays have left you feeling stretched thin, I invite you to consider this: What would it look like to let this be a season of rest, instead of more?
Come here. Come home. Not to Bali, but to you.
With love,
Putu Maryam
Founder, The Bodhi Leaf Wellness Retreat
