Ok ok, so I have won a few things, but whatevs that’s besides the point. The point is, I’m not the type of person where the stars all align and the odds are “ever in my favor”. Randomly, amazing, things don’t just fall into my lap…like ever.

But this, randomly, amazing thing did fall into my lap, and it couldn’t have come at a more perfect time. The prior weeks had been complete hell. Trying to get a long-term visa for another country, whilst in a country that is not my native country, was an absolute nightmare. I don’t stress easily, but that process had me stressed to the MAX. That, on top of planning for my schools’ summer camps, and taking care of last minute things for my departure from Korea, it was just…a lot.

At any rate, one night I’m doing my last scroll through Instagram and I like a random photo. Shortly after, I received a DM from Hello Adventure Travel asking if I’d entered their contest for a free trip to Bali. I hadn’t, but I was like, eh, what the heck. Might as well. So, I took a few minutes to enter by sharing it on my social media platforms and writing a short little blurb (I think it was something like 200 characters or less) of why I, or a person I wanted to nominate, should be chosen. I have been intentionally selfish this year (more on that at a later time), so I chose to nominate myself.

That was that. I’d honestly forgotten all about it, as soon as I hit submit, because I’ve entered a gazillion giveaways (no…like seriously a gazillion. At one point, years ago, I even created an email address specifically for giveaways. Determined much?) and never have I ever won one.

Apparently, this time was different. About a week later I received another DM saying that I’d won! I was like wait…what? Is this a joke? Is this legit? Can’t be! So, I do what I do best and researched this group. Every Google link, every social media platform, every tag, every hashtag, everything! It seemed pretty legit…a small start up, but still legit. I had 48 hours to confirm I could come. I slept on it, prayed about it, accepted my blessing, and confirmed I would be coming. Sure, I had to decommit to one of the camps I’d planned on teaching, but this was one blessing I wasn’t going to block for the sake of others because intentionally selfish.

This truly was a blessing. Bali has been at the top of my list for I don’t know how long. It is the ONE place that was a must visit while here in Asia. For an entire year, I knew that for summer vacation I would be going to Bali…no questions asked. But, then things got screwy. I’d committed to teaching at 3 different camps, which didn’t leave me much vacation time. So, at most, I would only be able to spend 5 days in Bali. That is NOT how I wanted to do Bali. This wasn’t some place on a checklist where I just wanted to hit the hotspots for a blog post or two. No, I wanted to really DO Bali…mind, body, and spirit. It had to be all or nothing. So, begrudgingly I put Bali on the back burner for a later time. I didn’t want to cheat myself of the experience.

I ended up booking a flight for Okinawa instead. This was also a place I’d wanted to visit for a while. It was cheap and somewhere that could be explored in 5-6 days. I booked the flight, but that was it. Every time I sat down to research the place my heart just wasn’t in it. I’d end up putting it off until “tomorrow”.

Then, Hello Adventure happened. Talk about fate! This wasn’t just an average vacation. No, it was much more and 10 times better for someone like me. It was a workcation. Basically, a retreat for entrepreneurs, creatives, and digital nomads to connect with other like-minded individuals in an amazing destination that allows you to work, play, and learn in the process. I was chosen to do something I love in a place that I love (yes, I loved Bali before even stepping foot on its soil :)). It seriously does not get any better than that!

What I would come to find out is that it would get better…and better…and better. Sarah, the founder of Hello Adventure, had so much in store for us. Everything from workshops, yoga sessions, cultural lessons, food tours, manis and pedis, a volunteer project, surfing lessons, and more. Every single thing I wanted to do in Bali on my own was handed to me on a pristine and polished silver platter, and not only that I was able to do all these things in the company of an amazing group of people.

Blessed.

Is all I can say.